Samuel Myer Isaacs was one of the major Jewish spiritual leaders inthe United States in the mid-nineteenth century. Born in the Dutchcity of Leeuwarden, Isaacs was the son of merchant Myer SamuelIsaacs. His father suffered serious economic losses during theNapoleonic Wars, and in 1814 the family moved to London. Of MyerIsaacs five sons, four would pursue religious vocations, in sitesacross the English-speaking world—Britain, Australia, and America.

In 1839 Isaacsmarried Jane Symmons, and that same year they set sail for New York,where Isaacs had accepted an appointment at Congregation B’naiJeshurun on Elm Street. It was through his work with Neveh Zedekorphan asylum in London that the New York congregation had found him.Although Isaacs had no official ordination, he had demonstrated greatskill as a leader and educator, and now assumed the role of hazzanand unofficial rabbi at New York’s largest Ashkenazic congregation.He became the second person in the United States, after IsaacLeeser, top conduct synagogue services—at least partially—inEnglish, rather than Hebrew or German.

In 1845 a conflictamong two groups of congregants at the synagogue led to a split.Isaacs through in his lot with the defectors and became leader of thenewly established Congregation Shaaray Tefila. Initially meeting onFranklin Street, the congregation built a synagogue on Wooster Streetin 1846, before moving uptown to its second synagogue, in 1869.Although the congregation remained Orthodox, under Isaacs’s tenure,various liberalizing policies came into place, including shorteningof services, increasing use of English liturgy, the introduction oforgan music.

In 1857 Isaacsfounded the newspaper the Jewish Messenger and served as from1867 to 1878. In 1845 he helped found the United Hebrew Charities(now the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services), and in the1852 the Jew’s Hospital (now Mount Sinai Hospital). He also served onthe Board of Delegates of American Israelites.

Samuel and Jane hadfive children, including sons Myer, Isaac, and Abram who were allprominent advocates for Jewish rights around the world and active ininternational aid organizations.