Manama Synagogue Restores Shabbat Prayers After 7 Decades

Bahraini Jews return to the Shabbat prayers in Manama’s synagogue. Image Credit: Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa Twitter account
Bahraini Jews return to the Shabbat prayers in Manama’s synagogue. Image Credit: Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa Twitter account
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Manama Synagogue Restores Shabbat Prayers After 7 Decades

Bahraini Jews return to the Shabbat prayers in Manama’s synagogue. Image Credit: Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa Twitter account
Bahraini Jews return to the Shabbat prayers in Manama’s synagogue. Image Credit: Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa Twitter account

Torah hymns resounded in the ancient Jewish synagogue in the heart of the Bahraini capital Manama after a 74-year disruption, as Bahraini Jews returned to the Shabbat prayers in the temple.

Nancy Khaddouri, a Jewish representative in the Bahraini parliament, explained that the synagogue was established in the 1930s and was initially funded by a French Jewish pearl merchant to provide a place of worship, indicating that Bahraini Jews have continued to preserve their traditions over the past years.

“They were always allowed to worship freely and perform their prayers in their homes,” she added.

Khaddouri told Asharq Al-Awsat the entire Jewish community comes from a common historical background. Its roots go back to Iraq since 1873 and 1880, during the era of Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.

Khaddouri points out that those present today are among the original Jews who settled in Bahrain. They work in trade and exchange, integrating into Bahraini society with different religions, promoting coexistence and religious tolerance.

On Sunday, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, diplomatic advisor to the King of Bahrain, published photos of the first prayer held in the Jewish Synagogue, showing Bahraini Jews as they read the Torah.

Sheikh Khalid described the return of the Jews to the synagogue for the first time since 1947 as a “historic moment for the Jewish people of Bahrain and a renewed history of national coexistence.”

In March, Bahrain appointed its first ambassador to Israel, Khalid Al Jalahma, following the normalization agreement concluded last year.



Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support for Afghanistan’s Security and Stability

Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)
Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support for Afghanistan’s Security and Stability

Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)
Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering support for Afghanistan’s security and stability on Tuesday, calling for respect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while voicing deep concern over the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the Afghan people.

In an address before the UN General Assembly during a session on the situation in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, urged the international community to intensify efforts to deliver urgent humanitarian aid, alleviate suffering, and safeguard the rights of women and girls.

“The Kingdom stresses the importance of empowering Afghan women and enhancing their rights to education, work and participation in public life,” Al-Wasil told the gathering, citing the outcomes of the recent “Conference on the Status of Women in Islam,” hosted in Jeddah.

He also highlighted the humanitarian support extended by Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing crises.

Al-Wasil warned against allowing Afghan territory to become a safe haven for terrorism or a hub for narcotics trafficking, which he said would pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

The Saudi envoy reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to supporting political, humanitarian and development initiatives aimed at achieving lasting stability in Afghanistan.