JL;DR SUMMARY Moses Montefiore, a wealthy and influential English Jew in the 19th century, embarked on a significant journey to Russia in 1846 to advocate for greater rights for the Jewish population there, facing resistance from officials and Tsar Nicholas I. Despite encountering challenges, Montefiore's visit became legendary and marked a pivotal moment in Jewish emancipation politics. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.