Illustrious Abraham Alexander, 33°
Past Sovereign Grand Commander
Supreme Council, 33°, SJ
(1743–1816))

Rabbi Abraham Alexander (1743–1816) was a prominent figure in the early Jewish community of Charleston, South Carolina. Born in London, he immigrated to Charleston around 1760 and served as the second hazzan (lay rabbi) at Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim from 1764 to 1784. 

• Religious Duties: During a time when there were few ordained rabbis in the United States, hazzanim like Alexander often filled the role of congregational leaders. He served Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim for nearly two decades without pay.
• Secular Life: Outside of his religious duties, he worked as a scrivener (clerk) to support himself. Later, he held positions at the U.S. Custom House in Charleston, including auditor and Collector of Customs.
• Revolutionary War Service: Alexander served in the Revolutionary War. After Charleston fell to the British, he joined patriot forces in the backcountry and was commissioned a lieutenant in the dragoons, contributing to the effort to drive the British out of the Carolinas.
• Scottish Rite Freemasonry: He was a founder and the first Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Order of Scottish Rite Masonry.
• Hebrew Scholarship: Alexander was an accomplished Hebrew scholar and calligraphist. He compiled a mahzor (High Holiday prayer book) in 1805.
• Family: His father was Rabbi Joseph Raphael Alexander, also of London. Abraham Alexander was buried in Charleston's Coming Street Cemetery.
• Second Marriage: In 1784, after the passing of his first wife, he married Ann Sarah Huguenin, a Huguenot widow who converted to Judaism. This intermarriage was considered unusual at the time, especially given his adherence to Orthodox Judaism, and led to his inability to continue his religious duties to the congregation.