Morris Silverman

Who was Morris Silverman?

Morris Silverman was an eminent Conservative rabbi as well as a writer.

Silverman was born in Newburgh, New York on November 19, 1894. He edited the High Holiday Prayer Book, popularly known as the "Silverman Machzor" in 1939 which became the official prayer book for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for the United Synagogue of America of the Conservative Movement for over half a century. He published it through his publishing company, Prayer Book Press, now a subsidiary of Media Judaica. He also edited the Sabbath and Festival Prayer Book which was also the official prayer book for the Conservative movement. Indeed his primary literary output was liturgical books, many of which he co-wrote with his son, Rabbi Hillel E. Silverman, including Siddurenu, a prayer book for school children, a prayer book for summer camps, a haggadah for the Passover Seder

Silverman was the long-time Rabbi of The Emanuel Synagogue, a Conservative synagogue in West Hartford, Connecticut.

He came from a family of clergy and writers. His wife Althea wrote many children's books and his son Rabbi Hillel continues to write Judaic books. His grandson is American actor Jonathan Silverman. He was a 1953 recipient of the prestigious George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge for Editorial.