Career
He was the second son and one of five children born to Alexander Wolff. His ancestors may have come to Prussia from England, or may have been in Schönlanke for many generations His education in the Talmud began when he was seven years old, and from age sixteen to twenty, he was a teacher in his community of both Talmud and the German language. He emigrated to England in about 1820, and became a private tutor for a Jewish family in Colchester.
Then he became rabbi at Norwich.
Attempting to flee Christian influences, he accepted the post of teacher and shochet at Plymouth. He taught Hebrew to the Review
Benjamin Golding of Stonehouse church. This was followed by working with CMJ, firstly in Danzig between 1827 and 1830, and then in London between 1831 and 1841.
He was professor of Hebrew at King"s College London from 1832 until 1841 and helped Doctor Alexander McCaul of the CMJ to revise the Mission"s translation of the New Testament into Hebrew in 1835 and to translate the Book of Common Prayer into Hebrew.
Diocese of Jerusalem
He arrived in Jerusalem in January 1842. Alexander"s position was always a controversial one. Various institutions were set up under his leadership, including a School of Industry for training Jewish believers in basic trades, an Enquirers House, a Hebrew College, and a modern hospital for Jewish people.
His presence greatly antagonised the Jewish leadership, who considered him an apostate, as well as provoking the other major churches to consolidate their presence in Jerusalem.
He died in Bilbeis, Egypt while returning to England. He was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Jerusalem.
He was succeeded by Bishop Samuel Gobat.