Israel

Cohen, Isaac (1914–2007), chief rabbi of the Republic of Ireland (1959–79), was born 26 July 1914 in Llanelli, Wales, one of three children born to shopkeeper parents of Lithuanian birth. Growing up amongst a community of fifty or so orthodox Jewish families, Cohen retained rich…

De Verdun (de Verdon), Bertram (d. 1192), administrator, was the son of Norman de Verdon and his wife Lecelina, daughter of Geoffrey de Clinton. He rose to prominence as a dedicated servant of Henry II (qv) and was sheriff of Warwickshire…

Edwards, William Victor (‘Billy’) (1887–1917), rugby, swimming, and water polo international, was born 16 October 1887 in Strandtown, Belfast, the son of Alfred Edwards, merchant, from Strandtown, and Mary Edwards (née Wilson). He was educated at Thanet College, Margate, England;…

Herzog, Isaac (Yitzak) Halevi (1888–1959), first chief rabbi of the Irish Free State, was born at Lomza, Poland, the only son of Rabbi Joel Herzog, rabbi of the Polish Jewish community in Paris, and Miriam Liba Herzog (née Cirowitz). With an initial education provided by his father, by…

O’Connor, Jerome Murphy- (1935–2013), priest and biblical scholar, was born James Murphy-O’Connor in Cork city on 10 April 1935, the eldest son of Kerry Murphy-O’Connor, a wine merchant, and his wife Mary (née McCrohan). He had a sister and two brothers. His was a clerical family: two…

Táherzadeh-Málmírí, Adib (1921–2000), historian of the Bahá’í Faith, was born 29 April 1921 in Yazd, Iran, youngest of two surviving sons of the four sons and four daughters (three of whom had been killed during a massacre of Bahá’ís) of Hájí Muhammad-Táhir-i-Málmírí (c.…