Rabbi Nathaniel David Benjamin

RABBI NATHANIEL BENJAMIN
We are saddened by the passing of beloved Rabbi Nathaniel Benjamin on November 29.
Rabbi Benjamin was the Founding Rabbi and leader of Chavurah Beth Shalom in Alpine, New Jersey for 32 years, during which time he brought enormous warmth, guidance, joy and solace to thousands of people.
Many members of the congregation remember Rabbi Benjamin with great affection as he performed their marriages, their children’s baby naming and children’s Bar and Bar Mitzvah Services, family member’s Funerals, Unveilings and other life cycle events both here in the metropolitan New York / New Jersey area, throughout the United States and abroad.
Throughout the year, Rabbi Benjamin performed weekly Shabbat Services as well as Chanukah, Passover and High Holiday Services.
RABBI BENJAMIN’S BACKGROUND
Besides officiating as a rabbi, he was also an outstanding cantor. His musical talents were recognized early by his mother Rose Friedman Benjamin who taught piano and musical theory in the Inwood section of upper Manhattan. Upon discovering that her six-year-old possessed perfect pitch and was able to play melodies on the piano after hearing them only once, she enrolled him in the preparatory division of the Julliard School Of Music where he was granted a full scholarship to study violin, piano, and musical theory. At the age of seven, he was playing in their young people’s orchestra and chamber ensembles.
During his college years Rabbi Benjamin continued to be involved with Jewish Music and religious services. He also began to establish a reputation as an outstanding religious school teacher and Baal Koreh . Nat began preparing for a career as a Cantor and was fortunate to study With Cantor David Koussevitzky and Zvi Aroni. His studies included Nusach and cantillation with Cantor Moshe Nathanson, Yiddish Art songs with Sidor Belarsky and Lazar Weiner. He received his formal Vocal training with the renowned opera singer John Kuhn, professor of voice at New York University.
Following his investiture as Cantor from Herzeliah Jewish Teachers Seminary and his rabbinical ordination several years later from The New Seminary, Rabbinical Seminary International, Rabbi Benjamin served congregations in New York and New Jersey.
Prior to the establishment of Chavurah Beth Shalom, he served as Cantor of Temple Sinai in Tenafly. He has also served at Riverdale Temple in New York City and Temple Beth Shalom in Clifton, New Jersey.
Rabbi Benjamin was a past President of The Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the American Society for Jewish Music. Rabbi Benjamin was also a member of the Rabbinical Fellowship of America.
Rabbi/Cantor Benjamin was also known as the founder of the annual Cantor’s Concert at The Jewish Community Center on the Palisades. In addition to his duties as a spiritual leader of Chavurah Beth Shalom, Rabbi Benjamin served as an officer with the American Society for Jewish Music where he sponsored their annual Chanukah concert and their Contemporary Composers concert which take place at the Jewish American Historical Society in New York City.
Rabbi Benjamin was married to Jill Benjamin for 56 years. He is survived by his daughter Renee Benjamin, his son Jason Benjamin and his wife Beth and his granddaughter Amanda Benjamin.