The last Jew in Afghanistan leaves the country Israel today

Zevulun Simantov closes the door behind 2000 years of history, for fear of strengthening the Taliban • He will immigrate to Israel in a few months • The synagogue in Kabul is expected to close

• Zebulon Simantov about a year ago

  Photo: 

  Getty Images

Zevulun Simantov, who has been known as the last Jew in Afghanistan for two decades, decided to immigrate to Israel out of concern for his safety, against the background of the United States leaving the region and the fear of strengthening the Taliban's power. The Islamic, and the synagogue in the capital Kabul, which it has guarded for many years - will be closed. 

"I will watch television from Israel to find out what finally happened in Afghanistan," Zevulun, 61, a member of a family of rabbis, told Arab News and updated that he would leave the country after the holiday season in the fall.

In an article on Free Europe Radio, which dealt with the departure of many of the minority populations from the country, he detailed his concerns: "If the Taliban return they will push us out with a slap in the face."

His ex-wife, a Jew from Tajikistan, and their two daughters have been living in Israel since 1998. Simantov, for his part, remains to care for the synagogue in the capital, Kabul, as it goes through turmoil - including decades of violence and political turmoil, including the Taliban regime and the war against "I was able to defend Kabul's synagogue like a lion of Jews here," he said. Various reports over the years indicate that foreign nationals or Jewish soldiers stationed in the country come to the synagogue from time to time. A Jew from New York and the kosher meat is slaughtered by Simantov himself.

Simantov, a carpet and jewelry seller, was born in the Afghan city of Herat, where most of the Jewish community - hundreds of people - lived.

He moved to Tajikistan in 1992 and then returned to the city of Kabul.

In 2001, after the American invasion of Afghanistan, he was forced to close the carpet store he owned.

In an interview with Israel Today about a year ago, he shared the pain: "In 1998, the Taliban came here and put me in prison. They broke the windows of the synagogue and stole the last Torah scroll left."

On the other hand he added.

"I can not leave Afghanistan, this is my home. I can travel for a few months and then come back here."