Benjamin was born on June 19, 1846, in
London, England, the son of Elias Benjamin and Mary Lazarus. Benjamin attended the
Jews' Free School, then headed by
Moses Angel, as well as its Talmud Torah under Myer D. Davis and Rabbi George J. Emanuel. In 1860, he won the Jews' Commemoration Scholarship. He was appointed pupil teacher in the school while still studying Hebrew and pedagogy. He obtained his teacher's certificate in 1868, and three years later he received a B.A. from the
University of London. In 1874, he was ordained a rabbi by
Chief Rabbi of Great Britain Nathan M. Adler, Rabbi Samson Rausuk, and Rev. Aaron L. Green. In 1874, Benjamin was elected assistant minister and reader of the
Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in
Melbourne, Australia and master of Jewish schools in that city. In 1879, he received an M.A. from the
University of Melbourne. In 1882, he went to America and was elected rabbi of
K. K. Benai Israel in
Cincinnati, Ohio, replacing the deceased Dr.
Max Lilienthal. He was rabbi there for six years, ultimately leaving due to difficulties between him and his congregation. His successor there was
David Philipson. While in Cincinnati, he was vice-president of the local
Young Men's Hebrew Association, a Governor and Examiner of
Hebrew Union College, Benjamin died in his room at the
Hotel St. George on November 15, 1906. He was buried in
Salem Fields Cemetery. == References ==