Sabato Morais ( he, שבתאי מוראיס; April 13, 1823 – November 11, 1897) was an
Italian-American rabbi, leader of
Mikveh Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia, pioneer of Italian Jewish Studies in America, and founder of the
Jewish Theological Seminary, which initially acted as a center of education for Orthodox Rabbis.
Early years
Morais was born in
Livorno,
Italy. He was the elder son and the third of nine children of Samuel and Bona Morais. The Morais family came originally from
Portugal, being probably among the large number of Jews who fled thence from the
Inquisition. At the time of Sabato's birth,
Italy was in the thick of her great struggle for freedom. Samuel Morais was an ardent republican, at one time undergoing imprisonment for his political views, and his father, Sabato Morais, was prominently identified with the political movements of his day.
Upon young Sabato early rested the responsibility of aiding in the support of the family. While still a child he earned a little by teaching
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
hymns and prayers to other children, meantime pursuing his own studies under Rabbis Funaro, Curiat, and others, and then under his Hebrew master, Rabbi Abraham Baruch Piperno, and gaining honorable mention in belles-lettres under Prof.
Salvatore de Benedetti. In addition to Hebrew and
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional It ...
, he acquired familiarity with
Aramaic,
French, and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
.
He remained at his home studying and teaching until 1845, when he went to
London to apply for the vacant post of assistant
hazzan
A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' ( he, חַזָּן , plural ; Yiddish ''khazn''; Ladino ''Hasan'') is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.
In English, this p ...
of the
Spanish and Portuguese congregation in that city. (The position of "hazzan", literally "
cantor
A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. In formal Jewish worship, a cantor is a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds.
In Judaism, a cantor sings and lead ...
", in the context of 19th-century American Judaism was generally equivalent to the contemporary position of "rabbi"). Owing to his unfamiliarity with English he was unsuccessful and returned to his home, but in the following year (1846) he accepted an invitation to become Hebrew master of the Orphans' School of the same congregation. Here he remained five years, meantime perfecting himself in English. During this period he formed a close friendship with
Joseph Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini (, , ; 22 June 1805 – 10 March 1872) was an Italian politician, journalist, and activist for the unification of Italy (Risorgimento) and spearhead of the Italian revolutionary movement. His efforts helped bring about the in ...
, and that patriot's struggle for Italian freedom was warmly seconded by Morais.
Elected hazzan in Philadelphia
In 1850, owing to the withdrawal of
Isaac Leeser, the pulpit of the
Mikveh Israel Synagogue congregation at
Philadelphia, became vacant, and Morais was an applicant for the post. He arrived in Philadelphia on March 17, 1851, and was elected April 13 following, the synagogue services in the interval being conducted by him. In 1855 he married Clara Esther Weil, who died in 1872, leaving seven children. From the date of his installation as hazzan until his death his influence was a continually growing power for traditional (Orthodox) Judaism. The synagogue formerly (c.1906) occupied by the Mikveh Israel congregation was built and consecrated during his incumbency.
Though his ministry covered the period of greatest activity in the adaptation of Judaism in America to changed conditions, he, as the advocate of
Orthodox Judaism, withstood every appeal in behalf of ritualistic innovations and departures from traditional practice, winning the esteem of his opponents by his consistency and integrity. His sermons covered a wide scope of thought and action, and he showed the loftiness of his spirit when, in spite of congregational opposition to the expression of his views during the
American Civil War, he continued, both in prayer and in his discourses, to show his warm sympathy with the cause of the
slave. In appreciation of his attitude during these trying times the Union League Club of Philadelphia placed him on the roll of its honorary members.
Aids in founding the Theological Seminary
When, in 1867,
Maimonides College
Musa ibn Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (); la, Moses Maimonides and also referred to by the acronym Rambam ( he, רמב״ם), was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah s ...
was established in
Philadelphia, Morais was made professor of the
Bible and of Biblical literature, and he held the chair during the six years that the college existed. For a number of years thereafter he felt the urgent need of an institution for the training of Jewish ministers on historical and traditional lines, and the declarations of the
Pittsburg Conference in 1885 urged him to immediate action. After a considerable agitation of the subject he succeeded, in conjunction with a few others, in establishing (January, 1886) the
Jewish Theological Seminary at New York.
He was at once made president of the faculty and professor of Bible, holding both posts until his death. Unquestionably the establishment of the seminary constitutes Morais' most lasting influence upon Judaism in America. The directors of that body have fittingly recognized his memory by naming the chair of Biblical literature and exegesis "the Sabato Morais professorship." In 1887 the
University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him the honorary degree of
Doctor of Laws, he being the first
Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
so honored by that institution. Many of hi
papersare evidently held in that institution's library.
His multifarious activity
In addition to the work which he did in official positions, Morais was most active in religious, educational, and charity matters. The Hebrew Sunday-School Society, the Hebrew Education Society of Philadelphia, and the Young Men's Hebrew Association of that city numbered him among their most steadfast friends. In his own home he gathered about him a small band of young men whom he instructed in
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
,
Talmud, and
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, and their nation, religion, and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions, and cultures. Although Judaism as a religion first appears in Greek records during the Hellenisti ...
, and in whom he inspired a zealous love for Judaism which has had a very marked effect upon the character not only of his pupils (among them
Isaac Husik), but of the community at large. Among his children,
Henry Samuel Morais
Henry Samuel Morais ( Philadelphia, May 13, 1860 – New York City, September 21, 1935) was an American writer and rabbi.
Biography
Henry Samuel Morais was born on May 13, 1860 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated at private and public s ...
was also a well-known communal rabbi, serving at several different congregations in
Mikve Israel and other congregations in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* ...
and
Rhode Island.
The strong conservatism of the Jews of Philadelphia and the warm interest in the higher things of Judaism evinced by the younger men of that city may be in a large measure directly traced to the influence of Sabato Morais. He was greatly interested in the
Alliance Israélite Universelle
The Alliance Israélite Universelle (AIU; he, כל ישראל חברים; ) is a Paris-based international Jewish organization founded in 1860 with the purpose of safeguarding human rights for Jews around the world. It promotes the ideals of Jew ...
, and was in constant correspondence with rabbis and scholars in
Europe and
the Orient
The Orient is a term for the East in relation to Europe, traditionally comprising anything belonging to the Eastern world. It is the antonym of ''Occident'', the Western World. In English, it is largely a metonym for, and coterminous with, the c ...
. Through his friend
Chevalier Emanuel Felice Veneziani, the almoner of
Baron de Hirsch
Moritz Freiherr von Hirsch auf Gereuth (german: Moritz Freiherr von Hirsch auf Gereuth; french: Maurice, baron de Hirsch de Gereuth; 9 December 1831 – 21 April 1896), commonly known as Maurice de Hirsch, was a German Jewish financier and phila ...
, he was enabled to secure timely aid for the agricultural colonies in
New Jersey and was the representative of Baron de Hirsch in the
Carmel Colony.
When the Russo-Jewish exodus began, in 1882, and
Russian Jews
The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest pop ...
in large numbers settled in Philadelphia, Morais immediately became their friend. Although unable to speak their language, his perfect familiarity with Hebrew as a living tongue gave him a ready means of communication. Among
Gentiles also he was widely known and esteemed, and was very frequently called upon to address public assemblies.
Besides his sermons, he contributed to Jewish literature much in the form of addresses to various Jewish organizations and of theological, polemical, literary, and critical articles for the Jewish press at home and abroad. He wrote classic Hebrew in prose and in verse with ease and elegance.
In all his life, Morais maintained close (cultural, religious and political) ties with his motherland, Italy. His translations and essays in Italian Jewry made him the founding father of Italian Jewish Studies in America.
Among his later works are:
* A translation of the ''Prolegomena to a Grammar of the Hebrew Language,'' by
S. D. Luzzatto
Samuel David Luzzatto ( he, שמואל דוד לוצאטו, ; 22 August 1800 – 30 September 1865), also known by the Hebrew acronym Shadal (), was an Italian Jewish scholar, poet, and a member of the Wissenschaft des Judentums movement.
Early ...
(in ''Fifth Biennial Report of the Jewish Theological Seminary'')
* ''An Essay on the Jew in Italy'' (in ''Second Biennial Report'' of the same)
* ''Italian Jewish Literature'' (in ''Publications of
Gratz College
Gratz College is a private Jewish college in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania. The college traces its origins to 1856 when banker, philanthropist, and communal leader Hyman Gratz and the Hebrew Education Society of Philadelphia (established in 1849 ...
,'' 1897)
* His translation of the
Book of Jeremiah
The Book of Jeremiah ( he, ספר יִרְמְיָהוּ) is the second of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, and the second of the Prophets in the Christian Old Testament. The superscription at chapter Jeremiah 1:1–3 identifies the book ...
for the Bible of the
Jewish Publication Society of America
The Jewish Publication Society (JPS), originally known as the Jewish Publication Society of America, is the oldest nonprofit, nondenominational publisher of Jewish works in English. Founded in Philadelphia in 1888, by reform Rabbi Joseph Krausk ...
was completed shortly before his death, which occurred in Philadelphia on November 11, 1897.
Morias is interred in the
Mikveh Israel Cemetery (11th and Federal).
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*The JE article cites the following works:
**
H.S. Morais, ''The Jews of Philadelphia'', Philadelphia, 1894;
** Memoir by H. S. Morais in ''Sixth Biennial Report of the Jewish Theological Seminary Association'', New York, 1896.
Further reading
*
External links
Jewish Encyclopedia article on SABATO MORAIS
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morais, Sabato
1823 births
1897 deaths
Livornese Jews
19th-century Italian rabbis
American people of Portuguese-Jewish descent
American Sephardic Jews
American Orthodox rabbis
Italian Orthodox rabbis
Hazzans
Italian emigrants to the United States
19th-century Italian singers
19th-century American rabbis