Raphall, Morris Jacob (1798–1868)

Swedish-born US rabbi. In 1849 he came to New York City as rabbi of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun; serving there until 1865, he promoted conservative Judaism in the face of the reform movement. He published many scholarly works and was active in Jewish charitable work, but he was best known as an orator and was the first Jewish rabbi to open a session of the US House of Representatives with a prayer.

He was born in Stockholm, and completed his doctorate in Germany. He moved to England, and in 1841 he became rabbi of the Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, where he fought for equal rights for Jews.