Until the middle of the nineteenth century, synagogues in the United States were led by hazzanim and learned lay leaders. Difficult questions regarding Jewish law, halakhah, would generally be directed toward rabbis in Europe for their opinions, but the rise in immigrants and the ever-increasing size of the Jewish population catalyzed the desire for synagogues here to be led by ordained rabbis in America. The first time an officially ordained rabbi led a synagogue in the U.S. was in 1841 in Baltimore. B’nai Jeshurun’s first ordained leader was Rabbi Morris Raphall, who gave his first teaching at the Elm Street synagogue on December 23, 1849.

Rabbi Raphall was born in Stockholm and moved to London where he rose to prominence. He was renowned for his scholarly publications as well as his oratory skills and fluency in several languages. His installation at the congregation was a major event publicized in many of the local newspapers. Throughout the 1850s, Raphall rose in prominence, as did the reputation of the congregation. He traveled to synagogues throughout the city and country to give lectures often attended by both Jewish and Christian clergy. In 1860, he became the first rabbi to be invited to give the opening prayer for the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. where his “erudition, diction, and oratorial fervor” impressed all. At B’nai Jeshurun, he was given a lifetime contract, a first in the country.

His years at the synagogue, however, were not without controversy. As one of the most prominent advocates for traditional Judaism, he was frequently challenged to introduce Reform movement-style innovations into the service. For the most part, such changes were not incorporated into BJ services until after Raphall’s death in 1868.

Even more controversial than the tension between traditional and reform ritual practices, was Raphall’s sermon in 1861. On the eve of the outbreak of the Civil War, Raphall argued that the existence of the institution of slavery in the Bible indicated that it was permissible to enslave people in the modern era. His teaching was turned into an article that was reprinted throughout the country and aroused strong emotions on both sides. After the Civil War began, however, Raphall openly condemned the South for waging a rebellion. He personally met with Abraham Lincoln, and he supported his son who enlisted and was badly injured as a Union soldier. (See the January 4, 1861, essay for more on this topic.)

Eulogies for Rabbi Raphall give an idea of the esteem in which he was held:

“… whose great learning was the just pride of every Israelite, whose increasing labor in the field of Hebrew literature has elevated the Jewish name wherever the Hebrew language is spoken, whose piety was the theme of every one, and whose kind and dignified disposition endeared him to all…”

“the first, the greatest and the most eloquent exponent of Judaism in America”

“he was unquestionably British in his carriage and habits of social intercourse.”

“Upon his arrival in America in October, 1849, no instance of so accomplished an orator as Raphall was known in this country, neither among the English nor the German preachers… Christians as well as Jews were equally charmed by his discourse”.

Source

Israel Goldstein, A Century of Judaism in New York: B’nai Jeshurun 1825–1925