A shul in Bahrain
The Jewish community in Bahrain celebrated last week the first Jewish ceremony in this country in 52 years. The event took place in the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama, the capital. Organized by the Kashrus Association, it was also the very first wedding in the country's history.
The chosson was the son of one of the kehilla's foremost members, Hoda Nunu, who served as a past ambassador to Washington.
Rabbi Eli Abaadi, one of the rabbinical figures of the United Emirates, said, "All weddings evoke emotions since they represent the establishment of a new Jewish family, but this one was particularly significant since it also happened to be the first Jewish wedding in over half a century in the only Jewish community of the Union of Jewish Communities of the Gulf States. It especially moves me to see the renaissance of Jewish life in this part of the world and to be personally able to help families throughout the area, causing me to pray and hope for more such Jewish events."
"This wedding was also important to our family and to the kehilla here in Bahrain, or to be more exact, to the Jewish community at large in this region." These were the words of the president of the Union, Abrahim Daud Nunu. "This is also a symbol of the renewal and expansion of Jewish life here," and he added, "Our hope is that we will hold many more weddings in the region and see additional young couples establishing their families here."
