From behind the counter at his toy store in Brooklyn, N.Y., Rabbi Menachem Nissim left a thorough impression on those who saw that when not busy with a customer, he could be found studying or reciting Psalms. He dealt with several health concerns in recent years that contributed to his passing away from COVID-19 on March 27.

Nissim grew up in Israel and attended the Chabad yeshivah in Kfar Chabad, where he studied under renowned Chassidic teacher Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman. He taught himself Yiddish to be able to study the talks of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—in their original language and then also taught those who could not study it themselves.

Following a tradition followed by many young Israeli students, Nissim arrived in New York to be close to the Rebbe and to study at Chabad World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway for a year, eventually settling in Brooklyn permanently.

While he worked in the store, every spare moment was spent in study; he was a familiar presence at Torah classes and lectures around the neighborhood. With a strong passion for understanding practical halachah, Jewish law, people knew they could rely on Nissim to offer rabbinic counsel and answer their queries.

Nissim survived by his wife, Esther, and their children, Rabbi Yisroel Nissim, Chanie Zohar and Devorie Lipszyc, in addition to grandchildren.

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