Immanuel Chanuka, even into his 80s, put others before himself. A regular at Chabad of Denmark in Copenhagen, he would often come and help prepare for Shabbat in Chabad’s kitchen before his passing on April 2 after contracting COVID-19.

“He was a caring person, a friendly person and a warm person,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Loewenthal, director of Chabad of Denmark.

Born in Damascus, Chanuka emigrated to Israel at a young age. He fought with the Israel Defense Forces in the 1956 war amid the crisis over the Suez Canal.

For the past 50 years, he lived in Denmark.

“He would go around and visit people who were lonely and sick,” recalled Loewenthal. “He was always concerned about them. He always had a warm, friendly smile for people; he knew our kids very well and participated in many of our programs.”

“People simply loved him,” attested Loewenthal.

Chanuka is survived by his sister and nephew in Israel, as well as a sister in the United States.

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