A Short Tribute

Hacham Daniel Hacohen Nahar was born to Miriam and Joshua Abraham in 1804 in Izmir, Turkey. He studied Torah with Hacham Rakhamim Arieh Arayesh, who would later become his father-in-law, and with Hacham Raphael Pincas de Sigora, known as the PARDE"S.

At the age of 25, after engaging in Torah study, he began to work in commerce and supported his parents, because of his father's illness. He continued his Torah study despite his work in commerce; he paid to have a Torah scroll written for him and supported the publication of several manuscripts on religious matters.

He wanted to immigrate to Israel his entire life and was only able to fulfill his wish at the age of seventy. He settled in Safed, where he officiated as a rabbi and preacher. He returned to Izmir after four years for unknown reasons.

Hacham Daniel Hacohen Nahar passed away on 27 Iyar, 5641 (1881) in Izmir at the age of 77. On the day of his demise he was still lucid; he gathered his family around him to bless them. Afterwards he began to recite the Aleinu L'Shabe'akh prayer, and then died.

Hacham Daniel Hacohen Nahar authored several works which were consumed in the Great Fire of 1841 in Izmir. Yad Nahar, his only remaining book of which we know, was published in 1884 by the Abraham Pontrimoli Press, thanks to his son's efforts. The book contains 14 sermons prepared for different occasions. His will, which contains various articles on ethics and faith, was found among the shrouds he had prepared for himself in advance and appears in the book's first pages.