Shalom and Peace:
Let us continue our journey to international Jewish communities, and visit Bahrain.
The Talmud reads that Jews lived in Bahrain since antiquity. Arabic sources write that Jews lived in Hajar, Bahrain's past capital, in 630 CE, refusing Islamic conversion when Muhammad's army occupied Bahrain. Benjamin Tudela recorded that 500 Jews lived in Bahrain controlling Bahrain's pearl commerce. In 1880, Jews came from Iraq, Iran, and India, thriving in commerce and textiles. Eventually 1500 Jews lived in Bahrain before WW2.
From the 1930's and 1940's, so many Jewish-owned businesses were along Al-Mutanabi Road that it was called "Jews' Street," all closing for Sabbath. With Israel's founding, and anti-Semitic riots, including burning of the synagogue, many Jews immigrated to Israel in 1948 and '49. The Bahrainis note that the riots were caused by Islamic foreigners. Jewish families hid in Bahraini Muslim homes. More immigration after riots broke out during 1967's Israeli Six Day War, left only 30 Jews. Today 37 are Bahraini Jews with a new synagogue built in Manama, the new capital, on Sasa'ah Avenue near the main Souk. It is a square, simple, light brown building with no symbols or words to identify it as Jewish.
Jews serve in Bahrain's Shura (parliament), and until 2013, a Jewish woman was Bahrain's ambassador to the USA. It is difficult to obtain a quorum of 10 for prayers; hence the synagogue is not used. Jews considered donating it to charity, but the Bahraini government insisted it remain a synagogue and offered to build a new one. The government also offered land and to rebuild the old synagogue which was destroyed in 1948. There is no rabbi and holidays and Sabbaths occur in homes. Bahraini Jews claim they feel no religious tension and have equal rights. When the present Emir Hamad Al Khalifa ascended to power, he gathered the Jews together and assured them this policy would continue. Jews supported the Emir during the 2011 "Arab Spring'' riots.
Bahraini Jews cannot visit Israel, nor can they openly support Israel. However, Bahrain is one of the few Moslem countries that has free trade with Israel and does not boycott Israeli products. As one Jew told us: "Life and business are great; however we can't visit or even phone Israel."
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com .
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
HILTON HEAD JEWISH WEDDINGS: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: RESORTS, BEACHES, COUNTRY CLUBS
REBBETZIN ELLEN SEGAL
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
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