The Lasting Legacy Of Afghanistan's Jewish Community

Afghanistan has a long history of Jewish settlement, dating back at least 2,500 years. However, due to decades of conflict, antisemitism, and religious persecution, the country's Jewish community has dwindled, and as of 2021, there are no Jews reported to be living in Afghanistan.

The history of Jews in Afghanistan can be traced back to ancient times, with some sources suggesting that Jews settled in the region shortly after the collapse of the Kingdom of Judah in 587 BCE. Over the centuries, Jewish communities thrived in cities like Herat and Kabul, with records indicating a population of up to 40,000 Jews in the 19th century. However, various factors, including emigration to Israel and other countries, as well as persecution and conflict, led to a decline in the Jewish population.

By the early 2000s, only a handful of Jews remained in Afghanistan, the most notable being Zablon Simintov and his distant cousin, Tova Moradi. With the Taliban's return to power in 2021, both Simintov and Moradi left the country, marking the end of a long history of Jewish presence in Afghanistan. Today, the majority of Afghan Jews reside in Israel, with smaller communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world.

The history of Jews in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Jewish history may date back 2,700 years to the destruction of the Temple and the Babylonian exile. In 538 BCE, during the period of Cyrus the Great, the Persian emperor, and his conquest of Babylon, Jewish tribes from Palestine-Israel exiled by Assyrian conquerors travelled through Iraq to Afghanistan, where they settled and built thriving communities in cities like Herat and the Afghan capital of Kabul.

In medieval Muslim and Hebrew sources, Afghanistan was called Khorasan or Khurasan. The exiled Afghan Royal family traces its roots to ancient Israel, specifically the tribe of Benjamin. As evidence, they cite a 1635 chronicle published by Khawaja Nimatullah of Herat during the reign of King Jahangir.

The Pashtun, the main Afghan ethnic group and Taliban supporters, believe they are descended from the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel and later converted to Islam. Dozens of Pashtun names and customs have Jewish roots, from the Pashtun tribe names of Asheri and Naftali to the Pashtun custom of a wedding chuppah and the circumcision of sons on the eighth day after birth.

In 2013, a trove of ancient manuscripts discovered in former Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan provided the first physical evidence of a thriving Jewish community from the area that was more than a thousand years old. Hebrew manuscripts found in caves in northern Afghanistan indicate a thriving Jewish community existed there at least 1,000 years ago.

In the 12th century, Benjamin of Tudela claimed there were 80,000 Jews in Ghazni on the River Gozan. The community was isolated and had little contact with the outside world. In the 1800s, many Persian Jews came to Afghanistan, fleeing forced conversion in neighbouring Iran. By the second half of the 19th century, 40,000 Jews resided in Afghanistan.

In 1948, there were some 5,000 Jews in the country, but the vast majority left for Israel in the early 1950s. Afghanistan was the only Muslim country that allowed Jewish emigrants to keep their citizenship.

In 2021, the last remaining Jew, Zablon Simentov, left Afghanistan.

The emigration of Jews from Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Jewish community has a long history, dating back at least 2,500 years. However, due to various factors, the community has dwindled over time, and by the end of 2004, only two Jews were known to remain in the country: Zablon Simintov and Isaac Levy. Levy passed away in 2005, and Simintov, the last remaining Jew, left Afghanistan in 2021 after the Taliban regained control of the country. This emigration marked the end of the Jewish community in Afghanistan.

The history of Jewish emigration from Afghanistan can be divided into several phases, each characterised by different push and pull factors. Here is an overview:

Ancient Times to the 1930s:

The Jewish presence in Afghanistan is believed to date back to ancient times, with some traditions suggesting that Jews settled in the region shortly after the collapse of the Kingdom of Judah in 587 BCE. Over the centuries, various Jewish communities thrived in Afghanistan, particularly in the cities of Herat and Kabul. However, the community also faced persecution at different times, with records indicating that Afghan Jews were subjected to harsh restrictions and pogroms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite this, the Jewish population in Afghanistan is estimated to have reached between 40,000 and 80,000 members at its height in the 1000s and 1100s.

The 1930s to the 1950s:

The early 20th century saw significant changes for the Jewish community in Afghanistan. The assassination of King Nadir Shah in 1933 marked the end of a period of relative tolerance, and the country once again became hostile towards Jews. Nazi propaganda infiltrated the country, leading to more pogroms and the ghettoization of Jews in Herat and Kabul. Additionally, harsh economic conditions and restrictive laws further drove many Jews out of the country. The creation of Israel in 1948 provided a pull factor, with many Afghan Jews emigrating there in search of a better life.

The 1950s to the 1970s:

The mass emigration of Afghan Jews to Israel continued during this period, with most choosing Israel as their destination. Some also emigrated to the United States, particularly New York, and Europe. By 1969, only about 300 Jews remained in Afghanistan, and the community continued to decline.

The 1970s to the 1990s:

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 accelerated the emigration process, and by 1996, only about 10 Jews were left in the country. The civil war that broke out in the 1990s further exacerbated the situation, and the last of the Jewish families left the country during this time.

The 2000s to the Present:

Even after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001, the Jewish community did not experience a significant revival. Zablon Simintov, the caretaker of the Kabul synagogue, remained the last known Jew in Afghanistan for many years. Despite visits from descendants of Afghan Jews living abroad, the community did not regrow. In 2021, with the Taliban's return to power, Simintov finally left the country, bringing an end to the Jewish presence in Afghanistan.

The current state of synagogues and Jewish sites in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's last Jew, Zablon Simintov, left the country in 2021, leaving behind him a rich history of Jewish life in the country. Synagogues and Jewish sites remain in Afghanistan, but they are at risk of destruction without the community to care for them.

In the city of Herat, there are four synagogues, a public bath, a Jewish cemetery, and several abandoned houses. The Yu Aw Synagogue is the largest of the synagogues and is located in the Momanda neighbourhood of the old city of Herat. It is the only synagogue in Herat that has preserved most of its original characteristics. The synagogue underwent renovation in recent years and was added to Herat's list of protected cultural sites. The second synagogue, the Gulkiya Synagogue, was converted into a mosque and continues to be used as the Balal Mosque. The synagogue's mikveh has fallen into disrepair and is no longer accessible to the public. The third synagogue, Shemayel Synagogue, has been converted to an elementary school and has also been renovated in recent years. The fourth synagogue, the Mulla Ashur Synagogue, has been left abandoned and is in a state of disrepair. The Jewish public bath also remains abandoned and is in need of urgent renovation to prevent its complete destruction.

In Kabul, the synagogue that Simintov was a caretaker of until his last day in Afghanistan is located in District 4 of the city. It fell into disrepair over the latter half of the 20th century due to the emigration of the country's Jewish population, damage during the Second Afghan Civil War, and persecution under the Taliban. The synagogue was built in the 1960s and has two sanctuaries. It was home to Simintov and Yitzhak Levin, believed to be the last two Jews in Afghanistan, who served as the synagogue's caretakers.

The Taliban's treatment of Jews

Afghanistan's Jewish community has a long history, dating back to at least 2,500 years. However, due to decades of warfare, antisemitism, and religious persecution, there are no Jews officially remaining in the country today. The Taliban's treatment of Jews has been marked by imprisonment, violence, and the confiscation of religious artefacts.

Zebulon or Zablon Simintov, believed to be the last remaining Jew in Afghanistan, endured imprisonment and beatings at the hands of the Taliban. Simintov was imprisoned by the Taliban for arguing with his fellow Jew, Yitzhak or Isaac Levi, who also lived in the Kabul synagogue. The constant bickering between the two men annoyed the Taliban, who eventually kicked them out of prison.

The Taliban also confiscated the synagogue's ancient Torah scroll, which is believed to have been sold on the black market. Simintov is still searching for the Torah and has vowed to remain in Kabul until he finds it. Despite the Taliban's treatment of him, Simintov has stated that he will never leave Afghanistan due to the Taliban or anyone else.

Simintov's neighbour, Samir Khan, described him as a "portly man fond of whiskey, who kept a pet partridge and watched Afghan TV". He also observed Jewish dietary restrictions and ran a kebab shop.

The Taliban, like other Islamic militant groups, are hostile to Israel but have tolerated the country's minuscule Jewish community. A Taliban spokesperson, Suhail Shaheen, stated that minorities in Afghanistan, including Jews, would have religious freedom under their rule. However, the Taliban's confiscation of the Torah scroll and imprisonment of Simintov and Levi contradict this statement.

The Jewish exodus from Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Jewish population has a long history, possibly dating back 2,700 years to the Babylonian exile. However, the recorded story of the Afghan Jews starts in the 900s CE, two centuries after the country was converted to Islam.

Over the centuries, Afghanistan's Jewish population fluctuated, peaking at an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 members in the 1000s and 1100s. The community was largely made up of merchants, dealing in leather, karakul (sheep pelt), and other goods, and often travelled long distances between Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Central Asia.

However, the Jewish population began to decline in the 1200s, decimated by the Mongol invasion of 1222. There was a brief revival in the 1500s, but the community suffered as trade routes began to decline.

In the 1800s, the situation for Afghan Jews worsened significantly. In 1839, thousands of Persian Jews fled to Afghanistan to escape forced conversions, bringing the Jewish population back up to 40,000. However, in 1870, the Muslim authorities enacted harsh anti-Jewish measures, triggering a mass exodus to neighbouring countries.

In the early 1900s, the community briefly revived under the rule of King Nadir Shah, who reversed anti-Jewish decrees and granted equal rights to Jews. However, this progress was short-lived, as the king was assassinated in 1933, leading to a resurgence of anti-Jewish sentiment and policies.

The vast majority of Afghan Jews left the country in the 1950s and 1960s, with most emigrating to Israel, and others going to New York and Europe. By 1969, only 300 Jews remained in Afghanistan, and after the Soviet invasion in 1979, only 10 were left in the country.

In recent years, the last remaining Jews in Afghanistan have departed, with the final member of the community, Zablon Simintov, leaving in 2021 following the Taliban takeover. Thus, the Jewish exodus from Afghanistan is complete, with no Jews currently reported to be living in the country.

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