About Isaac Nissim
Lived 1896 – 1981 (aged 84–85). Isaac Nissim was an Iraqi, Israeli and Turkish rabbi.
Yitzhak Nissim (; 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.
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.
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 the Vatican.
He was the father of Moshe Nissim and .
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Important facts
People in Isaac Nissim's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Isaac Nissim's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Isaac Nissim?
Israeli rabbi
When was Isaac Nissim born?
Isaac Nissim was born in 1896 in Baghdad.
When did Isaac Nissim die?
Isaac Nissim died on 9 August 1981.
What was Isaac Nissim's occupation?
Isaac Nissim was a rabbi.
What nationality was Isaac Nissim?
Isaac Nissim was Iraqi, Israeli and Turkish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Isaac Nissim. https://biography.guide/isaac-nissim/
MLA: "Isaac Nissim." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/isaac-nissim/.
Chicago: "Isaac Nissim." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/isaac-nissim/.
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