Jews In Bahrain: A Safe Haven In The Middle East?

Is it safe for Jews to travel to Bahrain? This question has been asked by many, especially after the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Bahrain. While some Jews have expressed fear about revealing their identity in Bahrain, others have reported feeling safe and welcomed during their visits.

Jews in Bahrain feel welcomed and enjoy equal rights as their Muslim neighbours

Jews in Bahrain feel welcomed in their home country and enjoy equal rights as their Muslim neighbours. This is a sharp contrast to the tense relations between Israel and some of its Middle Eastern neighbours. Bahrain is a tiny island connected by a bridge to Saudi Arabia and has a population of about 1.5 million people, of which only 36 are Jewish. Despite their small number, the Jewish community in Bahrain has a long history, dating back to ancient times with records of their presence in the capital, Hajar, in 630 CE.

The community today is mostly made up of Jews from India, Iran, and Iraq, who arrived in the late 1800s and worked in textiles, commerce, and crafts. While many left after the birth of the state of Israel, those who remained feel accepted and safe in Bahrain. One Bahraini Jew, Nancy Khedouri, described Bahrain as a "very open society", where she has never faced discrimination because of her religion. She also noted that her friends from childhood, who are mostly Muslim, have always accepted her for who she is.

The Bahraini government has also taken steps to preserve the Jewish community's presence and heritage. For example, when the community wanted to convert the country's only synagogue for another use, the government insisted that it remain as a synagogue. Additionally, the Bahraini ambassador to the US has proudly mentioned the existence of a Jewish community in the country during a speech, and the king of Bahrain has encouraged his citizens to travel to Israel.

Bahrain's Jewish community is also well-integrated into the country's political and economic spheres. Abraham David Nonoo, the community's unofficial leader, is a member of Bahrain's parliamentary council, and Houda Nonoo, a woman in her early 50s, served as Bahrain's ambassador to the US. The Nonoo family is known for their success in banking, while another prominent family, the Khedouris, are leading importers of tablecloths and bed linens.

In recent years, the Abraham Accords have further improved relations between Bahrain and Israel, allowing for the free movement of people between the two countries and enabling many members of the Bahraini Jewish community to reconnect with relatives in Israel. This has also made Bahrain an attractive destination for Jewish tourists interested in exploring the country's unique Jewish history and culture.

Overall, while the Jewish community in Bahrain is small, they feel welcomed and enjoy equal rights and opportunities as their Muslim neighbours, contributing to various aspects of Bahraini society.

There is a small Jewish community in Bahrain

Bahrain is home to an ancient Jewish community living in modern cities. Jews have been in the country since ancient times and even lived in Hajar, the capital of Bahrain, in 630 C.E. The community today is made up mostly of Jews from India, Iran, and Iraq who arrived in the late 1800s and worked in textiles, commerce, and crafts. Many left after the birth of the state of Israel, but today there are still 36 Jewish citizens from six families in Bahrain.

Bahrain is the only country in the Persian Gulf with a synagogue and it has a Jewish cemetery. The synagogue, known as the House of Ten Commandments, is the oldest in the Gulf countries. It holds services on Shabbat morning and is a great way to get to know the Jewish community of Bahrain. In October 2020, it celebrated the first Jewish wedding in the synagogue in 52 years.

The community's unofficial leader is Abraham David Nonoo, who is also a member of Bahrain's 40-man Shura, or parliamentary council. Nonoo recently renovated the country's synagogue with his own funds. The government insisted that the building remain as a synagogue, even though the community at one point wanted to convert it for another use or give it to charity.

While Jews in Bahrain feel welcomed and enjoy equal rights, there are some restrictions on their travel to Israel. Bahraini Jews are not allowed to travel to Israel as they hold Bahraini passports. However, this restriction was lifted in 2017 when Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa told his citizens they could visit Israel. In 2020, a declaration of peace, cooperation, and constructive diplomatic and friendly relations between Israel and Bahrain was signed, allowing many members of the community to reconnect with relatives.

Jews in Bahrain face the restriction of not being able to travel to Israel

Jews in Bahrain

Bahrain is home to an ancient Jewish community, with a history dating back to ancient times. The community today is made up mostly of Jews from India, Iran, and Iraq, who arrived in the late 1800s and worked in textiles, commerce, and crafts. While the community is small, with only 36 Jewish citizens from six families remaining in Bahrain, they feel welcomed in their home country and enjoy equal rights as their Muslim neighbours.

Restrictions on Travel to Israel

Before the Abraham Accords, Jews in Bahrain were unable to visit Israel as they held Bahraini passports. However, in September 2017, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, denounced the Arab League boycott of Israel, saying that the kingdom's citizens were entitled to visit Israel. On September 15, 2020, the Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations Between Israel and Bahrain was signed in Washington, D.C., allowing Israelis and Bahrainis to travel between the two countries. This agreement changed the dynamics for Jews in Bahrain, enabling them to reconnect with relatives in Israel and making Bahrain an attractive destination for Jewish travellers interested in exploring the country's rich Jewish history and culture.

Bahrain is the only country in the Persian Gulf with a synagogue

Bahrain: The Only Country in the Persian Gulf with a Synagogue

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small country in the Persian Gulf with a population of about half a million citizens. Within this population is a tiny Jewish community, composed of 35-36 Jewish citizens from six families. This community is centred around the country's only synagogue, located in the capital city of Manama.

The synagogue was built in the early 1900s to serve the local Jewish community, most of whom came from Iraq. The community peaked at around 1,500 in the 1930s, but after the synagogue was ransacked during riots in 1947, the Jewish population began to dwindle. Today, the synagogue is used predominantly on special occasions such as Hanukkah and Purim.

Despite the small size of the community, Jews in Bahrain feel welcomed and enjoy equal rights as their Muslim neighbours. In 2017, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa told his citizens to travel to Israel. Following the Abraham Accords in 2020, Israelis and Bahrainis can now travel between the two countries, allowing members of the community to reconnect with relatives.

Bahrain's synagogue is located in a busy area surrounded by shops, in what was once the centre of the country's Jewish population. Although there is no sign outside indicating that it is a synagogue, the shopkeepers in the area are aware of its existence and will point visitors in the right direction. The synagogue holds services on Shabbat morning and is a great way for visitors to get to know the local Jewish community.

Bahrain has a unique Jewish history

In the 19th century, there were Jewish merchants from Iraq, Persia, and India in Bahrain. The community thrived in local commerce and crafts, with families becoming wealthy in the textile trade and banking industry. Before the establishment of the State of Israel, nearly 600 Jews lived in Bahrain, and in the 1930s and 1940s, there were so many Jewish-owned businesses along Al-Mutanabi Road that it was called "Jews' Street".

However, the birth of the Jewish State changed this. Anti-Semitic riots erupted, and the synagogue was burned down. In 1947, many Jews immigrated to Israel after several anti-Semitic attacks, and in 1948, Muslim foreigners initiated massive protests over the creation of Israel, destroying the local synagogue and several Jewish homes. After a few years, most of the Jewish community left Bahrain for the United States or England, and by the 1960s, only about 200 to 300 Jews remained.

Today, there are approximately 36 Jewish citizens from six families in Bahrain, and they feel welcomed and comfortable in their home country. Bahrain is the only country in the Persian Gulf with a synagogue, and the community also maintains a small Jewish cemetery. The synagogue, known as the House of Ten Commandments or the Bahrain Synagogue, was recently renovated and opened to the public for the first time in 74 years. Services are held every Shabbat morning, although there is not always a minyan.

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