Henry Samuel Morais

Who was Henry Samuel Morais?

Henry Samuel Morais was an American writer and rabbi born in Philadelphia, Pa and educated at private and public schools of that city. He received his religious instruction from his father, Sabato Morais. For about twelve years he was a teacher in the schools of the Hebrew Education Society and in the Hebrew Sabbath-schools of Philadelphia. Morais was the principal founder and for the first two years managing editor of the Jewish Exponent. He edited also The Musical and Dramatic Standard 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 and minister of the Adath Yeshurun congregation, Syracuse, N.Y., and of the Jeshuat Israel congregation at Newport, R.I.. He is the author of: Eminent Israelites of the Nineteenth Century, Philadelphia, 1880 and The Jews of Philadelphia, ib. 1894, the most important local history of the Jews in America as of 1906.