Nakash was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to parents of Sephardic Jewish descent.[1] His father was born in Iraq, whereas his mother in Syria, prior to their immigration to Israel.[2] In 1962, he immigrated to New York City[1] where he worked as a stock boy and saved enough money to bring his brothers Raphael (Ralph) and Abraham (Avi) to the United States in 1966.[3][2]