Sephardic Community Mourns The Loss Of Rabbi Ya’aqob Menashe zt’l

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Baruch Dayan HaEmet, what a loss for klal Yisrael. Rabbi Ya’aqob Menashe (Ya’aqob Eliyahu ben ‘Abdallah Faraj Hayyim and Rahel Manasseh) zt”l, founder and spiritual leader of Midrash Ben Ish Hai, named after Hakham Yosef Hayim of Baghdad, was laid to rest in Eretz Yisrael on Har Hazetim on the morning of Tuesday, July 28, 2020. On Monday afternoon a socially distanced crowd packed every parking spot in the oversized lot at the Great Neck Synagogue to remember the life and legacy of Rabbi Menashe with hespedim.

From his early years, Rabbi Menashe  was selflessly dedicated to the distribution of Torah, while invigorating his Sephardi heritage in others and disseminating the works of the holy Ben Ish Hai, all to bring am Yisrael  closer to the holy scripture through speeches, written essays, books, videos and pioneered the use of every technological advance available during the respective period. His acclaimed work A Torah Minute series will stand as an everlasting tribute to halaka (Jewish law). Rabbi Menashe was known to speak on the unique blend of Halakha and Kabbalah that Hakham Yosef Haim achieved and mastered during his lifetime, a feat that very few rabbis have accomplished. In one of his final posted lectures, posted in March of this year, Parshat Ki Thissa, as the novel coronavirus was taking its toll on the New York region, Rabbi Menashe spent time relating parsha insights to the current time and the need to adhere to the rules of washing hands and netilat yadayim.

The Nine Days was always a sacred time for the dearly departed rabbi. Each year in conjunction with the Chazaq Organization the rav would lecture at the Colbeh eatery in, Great Neck, to a sizeable crowd, from all corners of New York. Rabbi Menashe would often choose to address the importance of judging others favorably and would delve into its poignant relevance to the days leading to Tisha Be’Ab. Rabbi Menashe was quick to point out that we often miss pivotal parts of a story, and because we jump to conclusions, we may view others in a negative light, even when they are not deserving of such judgment. It is by examining the different perspectives that we can judge people favorably. Indeed, often, we do not know the full story even when we feel confident that we do. The stories and comparisons that Rabbi Menashe drew always entranced his audience and made them feel that they were walking in toe with each word. His classes were remembered as thought provoking, inspiring and always entertaining.

One special knack the rav had was to leave his listeners with a renewed commitment to make an effort to see the good in those they encountered. The rabbi yearned to see walks of Jewish life share a common love for one another. His petirah just before the Jewish nation mourns the destruction of the holy temples, destroyed for baseless hatred amongst Jewish brethren, further glorifies the rav’s teachings as a testament for all eternity. Rabbi Menashe knew that we as ordinary people often are plagued with skepticism and a need for self-protection, but his elucidations offered some respite.

The rav’s passing is a tragic loss not only for Great Neck community, but as far as India where the rabbi kept the Jewish community functioning. The Rav also attended regular minyanim at the Young Israel of Great Neck, where he always had time to sincerely converse with anyone who approached.

The rav and his family would visit India, where the niftar would lead Shabbos services and partake in the community meals that often featured the traditional foods of Jewish Mumbai, Baghdadi-Indian community, the Cochin community, and the Calcutta community. The rav would spend time discussing the importance of tradition and its dishes: ingriyi (beef with eggplant and tamarind), chattarnee (sweet-sour chicken), brinjil albaras (layered vegetable dish), pumpkin kofta curry, pilau, and chutneys, salads, and relishes.

Rabbi Yaaqob Menashe, along with the late Rabbanith Ruth Menashe a”h, has built Midrash Ben Ish Hai into a multifaceted organization. From classes to outreach, lectures to singles events, his warm and engaging manner attracted people of all backgrounds. Thousands worldwide receive A Torah Minute daily, alongside much other content.

Rabbi Menashe’s family is of Babylonian descent. His grandparents were born in Baghdad, and he was born in the Babylonian Jewish community of Bombay, India. His father, H”R Albert Menashe, a”h, was the spiritual head of the entire community in Bombay as well as life President of the Sassoon Trusts. Rabbi Menashe himself was active in the Bombay (now Mumbai) community serving as the senior rabbi and spiritual leader of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Charity Trusts and Synagogues in India and a trustee of the Sassoon Trusts, often in constant contact and communication with Mr. Solomon F. Sopher, Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Allied Trusts and Synagogues.

Rabbi Menashe will be remembered as a true mentor and leader and will be sorely missed and mourned by each life he impacted with his personal touch of care, compassion, and dedication whilst continually being a role model for honesty and integrity.

Rabbanith Ruth Menashe a”h, was a foremost powerhouse of Midrash Ben Ish Hai. She was known as an amazingly sweet, yet powerful speaker and like her husband took time to speak with every person who came her way.  She was a pillar of tzniut in an all-encompassing way. She was niftarah on the 4th Adar, 5775.

The rav’s battle with COVID-19 saw the Jewish community unite in many ways over the last number of months. Thousands were inspired to deepen their practices and belief in Hashem. The heavens were stormed in a powerful fashion that no doubt was a comfort to the rav and his family throughout the ordeal. The tremendous amount of tehillim read and adherence to miswoth (commandments) alongside the offerings of support and advocacy was noted. The rebbe’s wisdom can be studied at Midrash.org, NonstopTorah.com and ATorahMinute.com. The family is collecting stories of ways in which people have been impacted by Rabbi Menashe. Please share your thoughts, interactions and stories at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Yehi Zichro Baruch