Israel’s former Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Yitzhak Nissim, was buried today on the Mount of Olives. He died here yesterday at the age of 85. In accordance with his wishes, there were no eulogies at the burial service. He had served as Chief Rabbi for 18 years until 1974.
Born in Baghdad, Nissim studied at the Jewish Religious Academy there and became known for his scholarship at an early age. In 1925 he emigrated to Jerusalem. In 1926 he published his first major commentary, “Zedaka U-Mishpat.” His home soon became a meeting place for scholars and community leaders.
Nissim was elected Chief Rabbi in 1925 and soon became a key figure in the Chief Rabbinate Council. As Sephardic Chief Rabbi, he also served as president of Israel’s Rabbinical High Court. Noted for his independence of thought, Nissim sought to create a harmonius relationship between all sections of Israel’s society, including its secular element. He traveled frequently to kibbutzim to discuss religion with kibbutz members.
He upset Israeli leaders when, in 1964, he refused to participate in a reception for Pope Paul VI during a papal visit to Israel. He said he felt the Pope did not show proper respect for the Chief Rabbinate in Israel. A hard-liner on Jewish religious law, he often was in conflict with early Israel governments, dominated by the Labor Party, over positions of secular authorities on key religious issues.
In 1972, Nissim, then 76, was defeated as Sephardic Chief Rabbi. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef succeeded him in the election. Nissim was the father of Justice Minister Moshe Nissim.
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