Solomon Alexander

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Michael Solomon Alexander (1 May 1799, Schonlanke, Prussia – 23 November 1845, Bilbeis, Ottoman Empire) was the first Anglican bishop of the Diocese of Jerusalem. Born into an English Jewish family living abroad, he had been a rabbi at the Plymouth synagogue prior to his conversion to Anglicanism in 1825. He was ordained a bishop for the Jerusalem diocese on 7 December 1841 at Lambeth Palace. He died in Bilbeis while on a trip to Cairo.

From CMJ: http://www.itac-israel.org/biographies_Michael_Solomon_Alexander.html Bishop Michael Solomon Alexander

Alexander was born in 1799 in Schonlanke in the duchy of Posen, now part of Poland. His father was a rabbi. Somewhat disillusioned with studying Talmud in Germany, Alexander left for England about 1820, and worked as a tutor for Jewish family in Colchester. It was here that he first heard about Jesus the Messiah King. Then he became rabbi at Norwich. Here he came into contact with a CMJ stalwart William Marsh.

Attempting to flee these 'Christian' influences he accepted the post of teacher and schocket (ritual slaughterer) at Plymouth. While there he taught Hebrew to the Rev. Benjamin Golding of Stonehouse church, and in the process read the prophecies in the Tenach about the Messiah. Ultimately, in 1825, he was convicted that indeed Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these Messianic prophecies, and he thereafter believed in Jesus as Messiah.

Soon afterwards, he and his wife, Deborah, went to live in Dublin, where he became a priest in the Anglican Church. This was followed by working with CMJ, firstly in Germany between 1827 and 1830, and then in London between 1831 and 1841.

While in London he was also professor of Hebrew and Rabbinic Literature at Kings College. He also worked with Dr. Alexander McCaul at CMJ's headquarters, Palestine Place, on translating the New Testament and the Book of Common Prayer, into Hebrew.

In 1841 the British and Prussian Governments and Churches entered into a unique agreement - the establishment of a Protestant Bishopric in Jerusalem. Alexander was proposed as the first Protestant bishop. When he arrived in Jerusalem in January 1842, he was the first recognized Jewish leader of the Messianic community, or church, in Jerusalem for 1707 years. This truly was a period of restoring the Church to its Hebraic roots.

Alexander's position was always a controversial one. He worked alongside the CMJ pioneer, John Nicolayson, in consolidating the Protestant presence in Jerusalem. Various institutions were set up under his leadership, including a School of Industry for training Jewish believers in basic trades; an Enquirers House, a Hebrew College, and a modern hospital for Jewish people.

His presence greatly antagonized the Jewish leadership, as well as provoking the other major churches to consolidate their presence in Jerusalem. Both the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches subsequently sent Patriarchs to Jerusalem to counteract Alexander's influence.

Alexander died prematurely in 1845 and was buried in Jerusalem. He left behind him a tremendous legacy, albeit one which was not fulfilled to the expectations of his supporters.