Biography
Rabbi Morris J. Allen was born in Denver, Colorado and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary. He served as the first Rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation, Mendota Heights, MN, from 1986 until 2019. Under his pastoral guidance, Beth Jacob grew to become a nationally recognized congregational community, receiving nine Solomon Schechter Awards from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for its innovative programming. Honored by The Forward as one of America’s 50 most significant Jewish leaders, Rabbi Allen was invited to attend the Israeli Presidential Conference on Israel’s 60th Anniversary. Upon retirement from the pulpit, Rabbi Allen became the first rabbi to serve on the staff of the U. S. House of Representatives as the Senior Community Liaison for Representative Angie Craig (D-MN02). A passionate voice for pluralistic Jewish life and a strong supporter of ensuring the health and welfare of the Jewish people in all its manifestations, Rabbi Allen is currently working on a book concerning the role that eulogies play in overcoming grief during mourning.