Rodney Benjamin (PhD, University of Melbourne) is an experienced and widely published professional historian, and is the son-in-law of Sioma Jacobi. Rodney is the sole author of four scholarly historical books, coedited and has contributed chapters to several other books, and is a frequent author of journal articles. In 1999 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal by the Australian government for his services to the Jewish community (to the Jewish Welfare Society and to the Friends of the Hebrew University), and also for service to the insurance industry as chairman of a number of insurance professional groups and as an adviser to state governments. He was chief executive officer of a major firm of insurance brokers when ill health forced his retirement at which point he commenced an academic career. Rodney was born in Melbourne, Australia, where he lives with his wife Carmel, their children, and their children.