David Einhorn

David Einhorn, a leading American Reform rabbi born in Bavaria, became the first rabbi of Har Sinai Congregation in Baltimore. Before his emigration, he had challenged the religious authority of the Talmud, supported holding synagogue services in German, and sought to omit references to biblical sacrifices. His rendering of a new prayer book was a model for the Union Prayer Book published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis in 1894. In response to a political sermon delivered by American rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall in 1861, Einhorn strongly disputed the latter’s proslavery stance, leading to Einhorn’s violent dismissal and his move to Congregation Keneseth Israel in Philadelphia and later to Congregation Adas Jeshurun in New York City.