Yitzhak Nissim

Yitzhak Nissim (Hebrew: יצחק נסים‎‎; 1896 - August 9, 1981) was a Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel. Nissim was born in Baghdad and immigrated to Israel in 1925. He studied under Rabbi Sadqa Hussein.

Rabbi

Yitzhak Nissim
יצחק ניסים
TitleSephardic chief rabbi of Israel
Personal
Born1896
1981
ReligionJudaism
ParentsRabbi
DenominationOrthodox
Jewish leader
PredecessorBenzion Uziel
SuccessorOvadia Yosef
Began1955
Ended1972
A visit to Ashkelon by Rishon Lezion Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog (1955)

In 1955, he became Chief Sephardic Rabbi. As a gesture of goodwill, he visited some kibbutzim, which at that time were predominantly Ashkenazi and secular. He was also emphatic that the Bene Israel, who had been rejected as Jews by other rabbis, were Jewish.[1]

In 1964, Pope Paul VI visited Israel but refused to visit the heads of other religions, insisting that they come visit him. In protest, Nissim boycotted this visit, insisting that he was willing to visit the Pope as long as there would be reciprocity if a chief rabbi came to Rome.[2]

He was the father of Moshe Nissim and Meir Benayahu.

Preceded by
Benzion Uziel		 Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel
Yitzhak Nissim
1955–1972		 Succeeded by
Ovadia Yosef

References
  1. Gilbert, Martin: Israel: A History
  2. Peres Meets With Pope in Vatican


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