Benjamin Eliakim Yates (, ; died 1798) was

rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

of the Jewish community of

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Biography

Benjamin Eliakim Yates was the older son of Eliakim Goetz of Strelitz, and was likely himself also a native of Strelitz. Upon arriving in England, he became an itinerant seal-engraver, eventually settling in one of the southwestern counties. He afterwards moved to

, where he became an engraver and working jeweller. In addition to his trade, he took on the role of rabbi of the city's fledgling Jewish congregation, as well as ''

ḥazzan A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' (, plural ; ; ) is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who leads the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this prayer leader is often referred to as a cantor, a term also ...

'', '' shoḥet'', and ''

mohel A ( , Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazi pronunciation , plural: , , "circumciser") is a Jewish man trained in the practice of , the "covenant of male circumcision". A woman who is trained in the practice is referred to as a ''mohelet'' (plural: ''mo ...

''. His residence at 109 Frederick Street is believed to have been the first regular synagogue in Liverpool. Its small garden functioned as a burial ground, with Benjamin Yates being the final individual laid to rest there. Following his passing, Benjamin's younger brother Samuel relocated to Liverpool, likely assuming responsibility for the engraving and jewellery business that Benjamin had left behind. Samuel Yates and his wife Martha () of

Shaftesbury Shaftesbury () is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England. It is on the A30 road, west of Salisbury, Wiltshire, Salisbury and north-northeast of Dorchester, Dorset, Dorchester, near the border with Wiltshire. It is the only significant hi ...

were the ancestors of the leading families of the Liverpool Jewish community, whose members included Herbert, Viscount Samuel and Sir

Stuart Samuel Stuart Samuel may refer to: * Stuart Samuel (politician), British banker and politician * Stuart Samuel (physicist), American physicist {{hndis, Samuel, Stuart ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yates, Benjamin Eliakim 1798 deaths 18th-century English rabbis English jewellers English Orthodox rabbis Clergy from Liverpool People from Mecklenburg-Strelitz