It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avraham Menachem zt”l, the longtime Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek and the founder of the Ner HaTzafon network of Torah institutions.

Born in Morocco, Rav Menachem immigrated to Eretz Yisroel as a teenager, arriving at approximately 15 years of age. Soon after settling in Migdal HaEmek in the Jezreel Valley, he distinguished himself through his exceptional diligence in Torah study and unwavering commitment to Torah and mitzvos. At the time, the young city was still in its formative years, and he dedicated himself to fostering Torah learning and preserving Jewish tradition, particularly among immigrants from Morocco.

For many decades, Rav Menachem served as the city’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, earning the admiration and respect of residents from every segment of the community. Together with his longtime colleague, the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek, Rav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, he helped spearhead a Torah renaissance throughout northern Israel, transforming Migdal HaEmek into a flourishing center of Torah, chessed, and Jewish education.

Rav Menachem founded and led the Ner HaTzafon educational network, which grew to include Talmudei Torah, preschools, the Nezer HaTorah yeshiva ketanah, kollelim for avreichim, and the Ohr HaEmek shul. Thousands of talmidim passed through these institutions, establishing Torah-observant homes and continuing the values instilled by their revered Rosh HaMosdos.

He was widely known for his extraordinary humility, warm countenance, and genuine concern for every individual. Despite his stature as one of the country’s senior rabbanim, he lived with remarkable simplicity. His home was always open to anyone seeking guidance or assistance, while the Torah classes and Daf Yomi shiurim he delivered in local shuls drew large numbers of participants from across the region.

Rav Menachem is survived by a distinguished family of children, grandchildren, and descendants who continue to walk in his path, dedicating themselves to Torah and mitzvos.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}