Morais, Henry Samuel, 1860-1924

Henry Samuel Morais was born on May 13, 1860, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the Reverend Sabato Morais, a well-known national Jewish leader, Rabbi of Congregation Mikveh Israel of Philadelphia, and founder of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Morais attended different private and public schools for his secular education, while he received a traditional religious education from his father. After his schooling he taught for twelve years in the schools of the Hebrew Education Society and in the Hebrew Sabbath-Schools of Philadelphia.

He was interested for a time in law but abandoned it to pursue a literary career. He contributed articles on various subjects to secular and Jewish papers including current matters in Judaism, Jewish literary topics, and other general questions. He wrote for journals all over the United States, although, of course, most of his material was published along the east coast, especially in Philadelphia. In 1887 he was the principal founder of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, a weekly newspaper that represented a traditional religious point-of-view, and served as managing editor for its first two years. After leaving the Jewish Exponent he joined the special staff of the Philadelphia Public Ledger and became its editor in 1894. He was also the editor of two other journals in Philadelphia during this time: the Musical and Dramatic Standard and the Hebrew Watchword and Instructor.

Along with his journalistic activities Morais took active part in the cultural and intellectual life of Philadelphia. He was the founder and president of Doreshe Da'ath Society, a Jewish literary and intellectual group, founder and executive director of the Philadelphia Musical and the Philadelphia Concert Company, and was also involved with the American Jewish Historical Society, along with his father, during its formative years in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Besides his journalistic efforts and the works which he published Morais used his religious background and education along with his former teaching experience to enter the Rabbinate where he became known as an articulate speaker, as a Jewish educator to both adults and children, and as a communal leader. He was asked quite often by different synagogues to deliver guest sermons on special Sabbaths and the holidays.

As a Rabbi, Morais was respected by and appealed to an American-born, English-speaking constituency committed to the ideals of traditional Judaism. Morais himself held strong views against the Reform movement in America and became embroiled in a number of controversies concerning statements which he made against Reform Judaism. Morais was nevertheless unable to find security in the Rabbinical profession and he held numerous pulpits.

Morais' first position was in Philadelphia, where he became acting minister in Congregation Mikveh Israel, 1897-1898, upon his father's death. After a brief illness Morais left Philadelphia to accept a position in Congregation Adath Jeshurun, Syracuse, New York, where he served as Rabbi in 1899-1900, and 1902-1903. In 1900-1901 he served as Rabbi to Congregation Jeshuath Israel, Newport, Rhode Island. After leaving Syracuse he came to New York where he remained for the rest of his life. He founded and became Rabbi of Congregation Mikveh Israel in New York City. Successive pulpits for Morais included: Congregation Sons of Israel, Brooklyn, New York; Congregation Derech Emunah, Arverne, Long Island; Congregation Pincus Elijah, New York City, and the Congregation of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York.

Morais never married; he kept in close contact with his brother and sisters, and maintained a large group of friends with whom he corresponded -- indeed many of these people were major figures within the American Jewish community and their correspondence appears in this collection. After a long illness Morais died at the House of the Incurables, Bronx, New York, on September 21, 1935.