We are celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month with a fact-a-day program. Every day we will be posting a new fact that can also be found on our
Facebook Page and Twitter (@JCRCAtlanta). We will also be sharing other links and sources of information as we go, so please share! We would love to have your suggestions to add to our resources!
You can also sign up for a daily email through the month of May.
May 4
First Ordained Rabbi to Serve in US
Rabbi Abraham Rice was the first ordained person to serve as a Rabbi in the United States. Originally from Germany, Rice completed an Orthodox ordination at the Wurzberg yeshiva. He then taught Talmud at the Zell yeshiva. In 1840, at the request of a council of Bavarian Rabbis, he and his wife immigrated to the United States to serve as the first ordained Rabbi in the country. He became the first Rabbi of Congregation Nidche Israel (Baltimore Hebrew Congregation) in Baltimore, Maryland. Many Orthodox congregations in the Eastern United States asked Rice halachic questions. In 1845, he established the first German-Jewish day school in America. In 1849, Rice left the rabbinate and became a merchant, while serving as an unpaid lay leader of his own congregation. Later on, he returned to serve as the Rabbi of
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
We look forward to conncting with our Jewish peoplehood and through our shared heritage. Feel free to share with the links below! Contact Leslie Anderson at
info@jcrcatlanta.org or 770-366-7686 with questions, concerns or ideas.
