Born into immense wealth, Flora Sassoon could have easily strayed from the path of Torah. Instead, she became a legend in her time — raising strong frum Jews in the heart of India, managing her family’s company after she was widowed at age thirty-five, and opening her doors and pocketbook to all who sought her help.
On April 13 1936 an Australian newspaper The Cairns Post ran a small article on page 11 entitled “Famous Hostess Dies.”
“Lavish hostess and one of the world’s most learned women Mrs. Flora Sassoon has died at her home in Bruton street [London] … after a long illness” the article read describing the passing of a woman across the globe. “Her meals were lavish Eastern Banquets and there was no greater crime in her eyes than to refuse the dishes which she pressed on her guests. It is known that some of those invited to her home abstained from food earlier in the day so that they could do justice to her hospitality.”
The article failed to mention however that Flora was an Orthodox Jewess and that the meals she served to princes dukes literati and other non-Jewish high society members were strictly kosher. The Cairns Post which described Flora as one of the world’s most learned women was certainly referring to her secular and business knowledge but did not indicate that Flora was also very well versed in Tanach Mishnah Gemara halachah and Jewish philosophy.
Family Ties
Flora was part of the legendary and exceptionally affluent Sassoon family dynasty — both by birth and marriage. She was the great-granddaughter of the dynasty’s founder David Sassoon (Flora’s mother Azziza was the daughter of David’s eldest son Albert). She was also married to David’s youngest son Shlomo at which point her great-grandfather also became her father-in-law.
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