Michael Alexander (Bishop) (1799-1845)

Michael, born a Jew, became the first Anglican bishop in Jerusalem.

He was born into a Jewish family in Prussia and emigrated to England in about 1820.
His education in the Talmud began when he was a child. From 16-20 he was a teacher in the community teaching the Talmud and the German language.

In Norwich he became a rabbi. While there he came into contact with William Marsh a stalwart of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews.- (now known as Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ))

He attempted to escape the Christian influence by moving to Plymouth to teach.
In 1825 he converted to Christianity.

In 1827 he moved with his wife, Deborah, to Dublin. In the same year he was ordained into the Anglican church. From 1827-30 he worked for CMJ in Danzig and from 1827-41 in London.

In 1841 a unique agreement was reached between the British and Prussian governments - the establishment of a Protestant Bishopric in Jerusalem. Michael - the Jewish born Christian -was appointed bishop in 1842. His position was always controversial - the Jews called him an apostate.

He died just 3 years later but by that time he had set up a School of Industry, an Enquirers house, a Hebrew College and the first Hospital in Palestine.

Note
The Christ Church - a simple Gothic building- was completed in 1849,
4 years after Michael’s unexpected death. Outside it differs very little from many Anglican churches but inside the building has more similarity to a synagogue,

Source
Wikipedia