Henry Morais

Background

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated at private and public schools of that city. He received his religious instruction from his father, Sabato Morais.

Career

Foreign about twelve years he was a teacher in the schools of the Hebrew Education Society and in the Hebrew Sabbath-schools of Philadelphia. He edited also The Musical and Dramatic Standard (Philadelphia) and The Hebrew Watchword and Instructor, and was a frequent contributor to the Jewish and general press of the United States. He was on the reportorial and special staff of the Philadelphia Public Ledger almost four years.

Morais was acting minister of the Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia (1897-1898) and minister of the Adath Yeshurun congregation, Syracuse, New York (1899–1900 and again 1902-1903), and of the Jeshuat Israel congregation at Newport, Rhode Island from 1900 to 1901.

He is the author of: Eminent Israelites of the Nineteenth Century, Philadelphia, 1880 and The Jews of Philadelphia, 1894, the most important local history of the Jews in America as of 1906.

Achievements

• Morais was the principal founder and for the first two years managing editor of the Jewish Exponent.