YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Shmuel Niman ZATZAL, the longtime Mashgiach at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens. He was 88-years-old.

Rav Niman was born in 1928, and arrived to Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in 1947. In a very short amount of time, he was easily noticed as being one of the elite Bochrim in the Yeshiva. It was most noticed by the Mashgiach at the time, Hagaon HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg ZATZAL. Rav Scheinberg was planning on moving to Eretz Yisroel, and recommended Rav Niman to replace him as Mashgiach around 55 years ago. He then served the Yeshiva and its student body as the Mashgiach with Mesiras Nefesh and dedication until his Petira.

Rav Niman was a Talmid Muvhak of Hagaon HaRav Henoch Liebowitz ZATZAL for almost 60 years.

A Talmid and grandson told YWN that Rav Niman was a very big proponent of recording ones learning. “He would walk around with a tape recorder and a notebook with shaylos just in case he would meet a gadol and would record his conversation asking him sahaylo”, he said.

When computers came out he would spend thousands of dollars (and drive hours if needed) to purchase the latest computer so he can write up learning.

He was known to record his own learning and shiurim, and would chazer it over.

It was rare to see him without a tape recorder.

He had a database where he would keep all his typed up learning. He would pay people to type up divrei torah he saw in different places and put it in his database.

They would also type up conversations he had with many gedolim – including his many visits to the Posek HaDor, Hagao HaRav Moshe Feinstein ZATZAL.

Rav Niman is survived by his Choshuva Rebbitzen, 7 children, and many grandchildren all following in his ways of Torah and Avodah.

His sons are: HaRav Yisroel Y Niman, Rosh HaYeshiva in Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes in Mimai; Rabbi Dovid Niman, Principal in Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim High School, R’ Naftali Niman from Monsey, and R’ Tzvi Nachum Nimim from Los Angeles.

His daughters are Mrs Chani Grunblatt, wife of HaRav Akiva Grunblatt, the current Rosh Yeshiva of Chofetz Chaim; Mrs Yitty Friedman, wife of HaRav Epraim Friedman, Posek and Dayan in Chicago; Mrs Chevy Shmidman, wife of HaRav Guri Shmidman, a Magid Shiur in Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh.

The Levaya will be today, Thursday, at 12:30PM at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, 76-01 147th Street, Flushing, NY 11367.

The Kevura will be in Eretz Yisroel.

Yehi Zichro Boruch…

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)