Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Rabbi aims to boost Jewish community in Saudi Arabia
Yaakov Herzog says he feels right at home in the Kingdom and plans to move there permanently
With his traditional Hasidic Jewish garb, Rabbi Yaakov Herzog stands out on the streets of the Saudi city of Riyadh.
On Tuesday, he visited the i24NEWS studios at the Port of Jaffa for an interview, saying that as an Orthodox Jewish American he feels right at home in the Arab kingdom and in fact intends to move there permanently.
While the rabbi didn't directly respond to a question about the potential of Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords, Herzog had high praise for the country that serves as the center of the Muslim world.
"They are adopting many more modern concepts over the years, but with that being said they also are protecting and cherishing their heritage and rich history," the rabbi said, noting that Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries in the world.
"We respect the Kingdom. We respect their very rich heritage and their history," Herzog continued.
There is no native Jewish community in Saudi Arabia, but in recent years the Kingdom has seen an influx of Jews visiting for tourism or for business.
Herzog's interest in Saudi Arabia began when he discovered the Kingdom's $500 billion project to build the city of the future.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is pushing ahead with preparations to construct NEOM — a megacity in the desert with no cars or roads and net zero carbon emissions housing more than a million people.
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