Nissan Neminov

Nissan Nemanov
Born	1904 Zhlobin, Belarus
Died	1984 (aged 80–81)
Resting place	Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel
Residence	Brunoy, France
Nationality	Belarusian
Occupation	Orthodox rabbi

Nissan Neminov (1904–1984), known familiarly as Reb Nissan, was a Belarusian Orthodox rabbi. Specifically, he served as a Mashpia, Hasidic mentor, in the Yeshiva of Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy, near Paris, France. He taught many thousands of students during his lifetime, and was renowned for his piety and abstinence. He was buried in the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel.

Life

Nemanov was born in Zhlobin in 1904. He studied in the Yeshiva of the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Schneersohn (the Rebbe Rashab). The sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn (the Rebbe Rayatz) appointed him the Rosh Yeshiva and Mashpia in various Yeshivos in cities of Russia, and he was appointed at the head of struggles against the Soviet regime, who incarcerated him several times and tortured him for spreading Torah and delivering classes in Chassidus. In 1947 he reached Paris and established a large Yeshiva in Brunoy.

Refinement of character

He would pray at great length according to the custom of Chabad prayer. In Nemanov's thirties, the Rayatz testified that Nemanov had reached the level of Beinoni discussed in Tanya, one whose every thought, speech, and action is consistent with the Code of Jewish Law. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson sent many of his followers to Nemanov to receive guidance in their divine service.

Distinguished Colleagues

When Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira (also known as the Baba Sali) lived in France, he would spend the Hebrew month of Elul as Nemanov’s guest.

References

• HaPardes, June 1984, vol. 58, no. 9, pp. 30–31.
• Communicating the infinite: the emergence of Habad school, Naftali Loewenthal, pg. 298