[Avodah] Isaac Leeser

[Zev Sero]

Prof. Levine wrote:

> Since we are nitpicking, let me point out that Isaac Leeser was not a 
> rabbi. He was the chazzan of Cong. Mikveh Israel. The first ordained 
> Orthodox rabbi to come to America was R. Avraham Rice. He arrived in 1840.

And in 1862 R Bernard Ilowy claimed that "In all of America, which has
more than 200 communities large and small, there are no more than four
ordained rabbis, and three of them are 'mitalmidav shel Bil'am Harasha'
about whom it may be said 'vesalachta la'avoni ki *rav* hu'".

-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas