"Hundreds of kilograms of preserved and elegant, handmade matzahs were distributed to Jews throughout Saudi Arabia this year, and with the help of the name next year I will be able to observe Seder here for sure," declares Rabbi Yaakov Israel Herzog, a Jerusalem-born Jerusalemite on the Israel-Saudi line. .
Herzog makes no secret of his desire to soon move with his family to the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.
"Today there is no infrastructure for the life of a Jewish community, I start everything from scratch and take up residence independently. I am now digging a mikveh tehara, which is the base, and I will hold prayers, Shabbat and holiday meals until there is something organized on behalf of the state. Fully there in half a year. "
Rabbi Herzog points out that he is a private person, and not a Chabad representative or a source on behalf of the state.
I only know that the countries in the region always maintain such and such ties, and my ambition is that King Salman bin 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Saud will give recognition to the Jewish community in the kingdom soon.
"Currently, I provide all the services needed to Jews there on my own initiative and on a voluntary basis. If the King asks me, I would be happy to formally serve in the post and be the Chief Rabbi of Saudi Arabia. The intention is beyond being a businessman so I can chair the Jewish community.
Where I can add value - I would love to help. "
"The Saudis value people with tradition."
Rabbi Isaac Herzog,
"Historical Correction"
Rabbi Herzog, 45, from the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem, is a father of eight and owns a private business marketing vegetable seeds (the company specializes in tomatoes and peppers).
From his business experience, he shares that "it is always better to maintain a state of dialogue. I trust the leaders on both sides who knew what to do at this stage, and to promote relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia."
According to his estimates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia currently has about 3,000 Jews who work for multinational companies - ranging from a few months to more than a decade - in a variety of fields: as architects and engineers in infrastructure and tourism projects, teaching, medical and more.
It is a mix of Jews with roots in Canada, the United States, France, South Africa and others.
Although a Jewish community existed in 1934 in Najran, near the border with Yemen, Herzog perceives regional change throughout the Middle East as a correction to the historical injustice that took place in the first half of the last century.
"With the expulsion of the Jews from Saudi Arabia, there was a big change between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia compared to the other Islamic countries where there was an orderly Jewish life under the auspices of the state," he says.
He said, "The deep connection that Jews and Muslims have had since the days of our ancestor Abraham until after the founding of Islam, as well as the lives of Jews in all Shiite and Sunni countries - except Saudi Arabia, the most important Muslim state in the world. "In general, with all the modernization processes that are going on, the Saudis will always be very traditional and value people with a strong and clear tradition and identity."
"Hospitable towards me."
Rabbi Isaac Herzog,
For the past three years, Herzog has been in close contact with the Saudis against the background of the establishment of Niem - their city of the future, which is expected to become one of the leading economic centers in the world - especially when it comes to agriculture and sustainability.
"In my personal experience, I have never experienced hostility or felt any disrespect towards Jews in Saudi Arabia, so any future agreement will stand on a real basis of good connection and connection. They are hospitable to me and expect to see more and more Jews coming there. It's time to be, and I believe That many will find a blessing above the presumed. "
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