The Marchioness of Reading | |
|---|---|
 Reading in 1938 | |
| President of the British Section of theWorld Jewish Congress | |
| In office 1939–1973 | |
| President of theNational Council of Women | |
| In office 1955–1957 | |
| Preceded by | Mrs Stanley Moffat |
| Succeeded by | Joan Robins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eva Violet Mond 6 August 1895 |
| Died | 14 August 1973(1973-08-14) (aged 78) Thakeham,West Sussex, England |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Michael Isaacs, 3rd Marquess of Reading Lady Joan Isaacs Lady Elizabeth Isaacs |
| Parent(s) | Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett Violet Mond, Baroness Melchett |
| Writing career | |
| Pen name | Eva Erleigh |
| Genre |
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Eva Violet Isaacs, Marchioness of ReadingCBE, JP (née Mond; 6 August 1895 – 14 August 1973) was a British philanthropist,Zionist activist,children's welfare advocate, and writer. Among other roles, she served as Vice President of theWorld Jewish Congress, President of its British section, and President of theNational Council of Women.
Eva Violet Mond was born inLowndes Square,London, the eldest daughter of SirAlfred Mond andViolet Goetze (later the 1stBaron and Baroness Melchett).[1] Her paternal grandfather wasGerman-born chemist and industrialistLudwig Mond. Though her father was ofJewish descent, Eva wasbaptised and raised in her mother'sAnglican faith.[2]
On 28 September 1914, she marriedGerald Rufus Isaacs, son ofAlice Cohen andRufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, in acivil ceremony.[3] She began reconnecting with her Jewish heritage after a series of trips toPalestine,[4] and formallyconverted to Judaism under the supervision of Rabbi Dr.Maurice Perlzweig in 1933.[5][6] She thereafter became a member of London'sLiberal Jewish Synagogue and an active Zionist.[2]
Lady Reading became involved in variouschild welfare charities, including as Chairman of the National Society of Day Nurseries and as member of theGeneral Nursing Council.[4] She toured theUnited States as a representative of theUnited Jewish Appeal in 1939,[7] and the same year became president of the British section of theWorld Jewish Congress.[8] Under her leadership, the organisation petitioned the British government to take action to saveJews duringthe Holocaust.[9] She meanwhile served as regional adviser on child care for theMinistry of Health from 1940 to 1945,[7] and served as vice chairman of the Children's Refugee Movement, which supported 10,000orphaned Jewish refugees.[10] She became vice president of the World Jewish Congress in 1947, and from 1955 to 1957 served as president of theNational Council of Women.[11]
She died at her home inThakeham,West Sussex, on 14 August 1973, one week after her 78th birthday.[12][13]
Lady Reading and her husband had three children:
She wasstyled asViscountess Erleigh from 1917, and asMarchioness of Reading upon her father-in-law's death in 1935.[3] She was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire in 1957 for her work in child welfare,[3] and in 1971 received anhonorary fellowship from theHebrew University of Jerusalem in recognition of her "distinguished services to the cause of Israel and humanity".[14]
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