Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.16, Spring  2008


 

Zvi Bar-Nissim:

MENASHI EZAIR

 

 

I knew Menashi when we were still in elementary school. As a child he was very modest and a bit withdrawn. When we grew up he went into business. He opened a shop for household articles together with the late Maurice Shemtov and the late Ezra Aharon.

 

Menashi would travel to Persia every now-and-then to stock up on merchandise for the store. He was able to accumulate a considerable sum from his commercial activities.

In 1948 he moved to Persia where he became a successful dealer in antiquities. From Persia he moved to New York, where he opened an antique shop and began purchasing buildings and letting apartments and stores. In 1963 the late Meir Zbaida and I visited him. During one of our meetings in his place of business an Iranian came in and showed him an ancient copy of the Koran. Menashi began to page through the book; the more he looked through it, the greater his admiration became. He spoke to the man in Persian and eventually bought the book. Meir and I were curious about this deal and after the Iranian had left Menashi noticed our wondering looks. He told us: “This is a very old book, and I’m sure that in a very short time I’ll be able to sell it at a great profit”. And indeed, within two weeks he sold it for a very good profit.

When his son Khedhouri reached the age of Bar-Mitzvah Menashi decided to hold the celebration in Israel. He asked us to make the necessary preparations. Meir Zbaida, Maurice Shemtov and I prepared everything. On the day of the boy’s Bar-Mitzvah we held the phylactery-wearing ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Menashi was a devoted and loyal person, who loved his fellow man. By nature he was somewhat withdrawn, wise and modest. He loved Israel very much and visited it every year, usually with his wife Jeanette. The first days of every visit were devoted to Jerusalem.

 

During his visits he would buy typical Iraqi sweets and pastries at Abu Salih’s bakery in Petach-Tikva. He would take them with him to New York where he would host a meal in the synagogue.

 

Menashi was well-versed in the Torah. I loved to hear his commentaries, and also what he had to say about Jewish history.