Background
Raphall, Morris Jacob was born on October 3, 1798 in Stockholm, Sweden. Son of Jacob Raphall.
Raphall, Morris Jacob was born on October 3, 1798 in Stockholm, Sweden. Son of Jacob Raphall.
Attended U. Giessen, Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), 1840. Doctor of Philosophy, University Erlangen.
Professional lecturer, 1832. Secretary to chief rabbi Solomon Hirschell, 1840. Became rabbi, preacher, master Hebrew School, Birmingham (England) Hebrew Congregation, 1841.
Contributed to Jewish battle for equal rights in England.
Came to New York City, 1849, lecturer, preacher Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, 1849-1865. Rabbi emeritus, 1865-1868.
1st rabbi in New York City to preach regular weekly English sermons. 1st Jew to be invited to open a session of the United States House of Representatives with prayer, 1860.
Active charitable activities, including gathering funds for relief of distressed Jews in the Holy Land, and elsewhere.
Defended orthodox Judaism in American Author: Festivals of the Lord, 1839. Devotional Exercises for the Daughters of Israel, 1852. Post Biblical History of the Jews, 2 volumes, 1855.
The Path of Immortality, 1859.
The Bible View of Slavery, 1861. Company-translator Eighteen Treatises from the Mishnah, 1845.
Founder, editor Hebrew Review, or Magazine of Rabbinical Literature (1st Jewish weekly in Great Britain), 1834-1836.
Married Rachel Goldstein, 1825, 6 children.