Nissimmi Naim Naor

Bio

Nissimmi used to help his grandmother prepare couscous as a child and began his professional career as a cook in Eyal Shani’s restaurant over 20 years ago, eventually becoming his chief focaccia baker. Since then, he has never stopped baking and cooking. 

Nissimmi is passionate about the historical and cultural roots of food, believing a good meal can alter a person’s life in ways nothing else can. 

Nissimmi established and leads an orthodox community in Jerusalem that includes over 150 families. The community combines the Sepharadic and Ashkenazi traditions, allowing all kinds of Jews to pray together. He also chaired Hashgacha Pratit, which opened the Israeli Kashrut market to competition, and served as a policy planner in the Prime Minister’s office and consultant to the Mayor of Jerusalem.

He holds degrees in philosophy, economics, political science, and law, and raises his three Jerusalemite daughters with his beloved wife Shlomit, a renowned poet.

A social activist, he was ordained as a rabbi by the Shalom Hartman institute, and also serves as a Casualties Notification Officer in the IDF reserves.

He explores Mediterranean, Israeli, and Jewish cuisines, tradition, and carbs. His favorite carb is focaccia.