Bahrain Mirror: A synagogue delegation organized a trip to Bahrain and occupied Palestine on February 25th, in first visit of its kind to a Gulf state.

Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) and founding Rabbi of New York based "The Hampton Synagogue", who has a close relationship with King Hamad, will lead the first-ever Synagogue mission to Bahrain.

The rabbi put on his page online photos of Manama besides Jerusalem in a religious touristic trip ad-like form, calling on his audience to book this trip that he described as a historic journey of a lifetime, as they will spend 3 days in Bahrain and 5 in occupied Palestine. The trip costs $5778, according to the ad.

The ad highlighted that this trip is considered the first synagogue (mission) to an Arab Gulf state and added that it will include meetings with senior officials, celebrating the Purim holiday in Jerusalem, as well as "exclusive visits to epic and exotic sites and accommodation in 5-star hotels."

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa invited late last year the Congregation to visit Bahrain "as part of his desire to forge better relations between Muslims and Jews".

A Bahraini delegation visited Tel Aviv in December based on instructions from the Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. One of the delegation members said that "he came to deliver a message of peace" from the Bahraini king, who had already expressed during his meeting with Jewish rabbis in Manama on February 26, 2017 his opposition to the Arab boycott of Israel, and his willingness to allow his citizens to freely visit the Jewish State.

The Israeli newspapers considered that this visit is a sign to strengthen relations between Israel and Bahrain, referring to a report that relations between both countries are likely to be normalized.  

Bahrain is the only Gulf nation with a Jewish Community and synagogue.

"This historic invitation" comes as a result of Rabbi Schneier's close relationship with King Hamad.

The eight-day trip will begin in Bahrain where participants will meet with high-level government officials and local Jewish leaders. From there, participants will then spend the Purim holiday in Jerusalem before returning to New York.

Rabbi Marc Schneier said that "since my beginning to work with the king in 2011, he [the king] has made his commitment clear towards building relations with Israel. My hope is that this mission will inspire other congregations to visit Bahrain and its Jewish community on their way to Israel."

"We are on the cusp of achieving peace between Israel and its Gulf neighbors. My hope is that this mission will remind us that as the children of Abraham, Muslims and Jews share a common faith and a common fate," he added.

Arabic Version