Jewish community of UAE

The Jewish community of UAE contains about 1,500 people with most of them, 150 families, located in Dubai. Large part of the community consists of Sephardic Jews from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and Egypt who are in UAE for business.[1]

History

Since the formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971, a small Jewish community grew and lived in the UAE for many years, but was mostly living in the shadows. Recently, as improved relations between Israel and the UAE, Jews in the UAE started coming out of the shadows and openly praying including for the welfare of the Emirati government and its armed forces.[2]

In June 2020, a message of love for the Jewish community in Dubai and the rulers of the Emirates from the famous Israeli singer Omer Adam was publicized through the official Twitter account in Arabic for the State of Israel.[3]

Community Head / President

Solly Wolf is the head and the president of the Dubai Jewish Community.[1][4]

Synagogue

There is a synagogue in Dubai since 2008 and its existence is supported by the government of the United Arab Emirates though the requisite ten men for worship (a minyan) is not often present. In 2019, the United Arab Emirates government announced the year of tolerance, officially recognizing the existence of Jews in the UAE. A Jewish benediction is also recited to the president of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan as well a to the rest of the rulers of the UAE during Shabbat.[5]

First permanent synagogue in Dubai, JCC (Jewish Community Center) of the UAE, is led by Rabbi Levi Duchman since 2015.[6][7][8]

Kosher food

A kosher catering company called Kosher Arabia has been established in Dubai. The company is founded by Ross Kriel, one of the Orthodox Jewish community leaders in the UAE. The company plans to serve to all gulf states. A kosher restaurant is planned to be open in the United Arab Emirates as well and Kosher food is also expected to soon be a feature on Gulf airlines.[9] Supply of 1,000 kosher chickens per week is provided to the community by local Kosher Shechita.[10] In May 2020, it was reported that the JCC of UAE has imported the largest meat shipment in history of the community.[11][12][13]

Talmud Torah School

A new Talmud Torah was reported in 2020 to have been recently established and now has around 40 pupils.[14][15]

References
  1. "A Rose in the Desert: A conversation with Mr. Solly Wolf, president of the Dubai JCC". www.amimagazine.org. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  2. Odenheimer, Alisa (June 3, 2020). "Jews of UAE Tweet Prayer for State as Ties with Israel Warm". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  3. "شاهدوا.. المطرب الإسرائيلي الشهير عومير أدم في رسالة محبة للجالية اليهودية في دبي ولحكام الإمارات". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  4. "Kiddush, Torah learning, and gefilte fish in Dubai - Jewish World". Israel National News. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  5. "As the Gulf Warms Up to Israel, a Synagogue Grows in Dubai". Bloomberg. 5 December 2018.
  6. "צפו בבית הכנסת היהודי הראשון ב...דובאי". כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  7. "Kiddush, Torah learning, and gefilte fish in Dubai - Jewish World". Israel National News. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  8. "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." ynetnews. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  9. "Kosher food, Dubai style". Ynet News. 13 March 2019.
  10. "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." ynetnews. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  11. Sarare (2020-05-26). "United Arab Emirates: Largest Meat Shipment In History To Jewish Community". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  12. UAE, Jewish Community of the (2020-05-24). "#EidMubarak #KosherUAE #KosherDubai #KosherMeatUAEpic.twitter.com/TajgtxTtSn". @JewishUae. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  13. "Kosher meat sent from the United States to Jews living in UAE". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  14. "Baltimore Jewish Life | A New Talmud Torah Opens In Dubai". www.baltimorejewishlife.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  15. "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." ynetnews. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
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