A Shabbat in UAE: the Fruit of Human Fraternity
This past Shabbat at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi was a truly uplifting and inspiring experience. There is a small Jewish community in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, smaller during these hot summer days, we had seven people from seven countries in the shabbat dinner, among those seven people, there was one Mizrahi Jew who had recently arrived from west Aria, he led us in magnificent prayer as a soulful hazan. His voice, rich with the heritage of Mizrahi Jewry, filled the dining room of the synagogue with a profound sense of connection and tradition.
The Abrahamic Family House is a beautifully designed and well-managed center that has been open to people from all over the world for free since 2023. It stands as an embodiment of the openness, tolerance, and respect championed by the UAE government, providing a unique space where people of different faiths can come together in mutual understanding.
As always, the food was delicious and generously sponsored by the Abu Dhabi government. It is remarkable and unbelievable to witness such generosity and openness from a Muslim country toward its Jewish community. Everything at the Abrahamic Family House is funded by the UAE government, a testament to their sincere commitment to interfaith harmony and inclusion.
The Abrahamic Family House itself is a shining symbol of the historic meeting between the late Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar University, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb. Their Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together opened doors to unprecedented cooperation, dialogue, and cultural exchange between peoples once separated by decades of conflict and suspicion, including one of the most impressive holy sites of the world——the Abrahamic Family House, comprised of a synagogue, a mosque, and a church, a groundbreaking interfaith complex in the UAE that symbolizes coexistence and mutual respect among the three Abrahamic faiths.
In the wake of the Abraham Accords, many Israelis are traveling to the UAE, drawn by new business opportunities, tourism, and cultural exchanges. I met an American couple who told me that, in their view, the UAE is now one of the safest places in the world for Jews to live and visit.
In the morning service, I also brought an Indian friend who works with Abu Dhabi’s government media group. It was his first-ever Shabbat service, and he told me repeatedly how meaningful and eye-opening the experience was. He said it changed his perception of the Jewish culture, and the vivid Jewish life in the Muslim-majority nation.The rabbi’s warmth, and genuine care for every individual in the community make him a pillar of this inclusive Jewish family.
Being part of this vibrant Jewish community in Abu Dhabi is a blessing. It is a living, breathing symbol of how dialogue, respect, and shared humanity can flourish even in places where history once suggested otherwise.
This experience not only nourished my soul but also renewed my hope for a future where peace and understanding continue to grow across faiths and nations.
