Education
Born in Tiberias at a time when it was part of the Ottoman Empire, Ben-Ami studied at a local yeshiva and the Lipshitz Teachers" Seminary in Jerusalem. He also studied law at the Jerusalem School of Jurisprudence, and was certified as a lawyer
Career
He became chairman of the Jewish neighbourhoods of Jaffa in 1943, serving for three years. He also chaired the Social Services Department of Tel Aviv city council, and was deputy chairman of the Sephardi Committee in the city. He lost his seat in the 1951 elections.