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Houda Nonoo

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Feb 17, 2023, 1:46 PM

Abu Dhabi’s new ‘Abrahamic Family House’

Abrahamic Family House. (Boubloub - own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

I hope the world pays as much attention to our interfaith activity as it gives to economics, real estate, and now sports

Aug 24, 2021, 2:48 PM

This Rosh Hashana, we focus on the growth of Jewish life in the GCC

(apple and honey image via iStock)

Thanks to the creation of the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities, more than 1,000 Jews from 6 countries will celebrate the new year together

Jul 22, 2021, 3:55 PM

At home in the Arabian Gulf, I’ve never felt unsafe as a Jew

While antisemitism is on the rise in the West, it is not an issue here in the region, including in Bahrain. That's why more Jews are coming to the GCC.

Apr 28, 2021, 10:58 PM

Ramadan reminds me how lucky I am to be a Jew living in the Gulf

Jews and sheikhs celebrate Hanukkah in Bahrain, December 24, 2016. (Screen capture: YouTube)

We go to their iftar meals, they came to our synagogue opening. What more do we need to prove our culture of peace, dialogue, and coexistence?

Mar 18, 2021, 3:05 PM

This Pesach we’ll celebrate the rebirth and renewal of Jewish life in the Gulf

Alex Peterfreund, a co-founder of Dubai’s Jewish community, its cantor, and an AGJC board member with a Torah scroll in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Since we established a network that serves Jews in the region, we've discovered many more Jews living here than we previously thought

Dec 17, 2020, 2:53 PM

Bahrain and Israel can spread the light

“Lights across the Middle East,” the first-ever joint Hanukkah candle-lighting in Bahrain, UAE, Canada and Israel. From top left, Rabbi Idan Scher of Cong. Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa, Canadian Amb. to the UAE Marcy Grossman, Amb. Houda Nonoo, MK Michal Cotler-Wunsch, and Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates Yehuda Sarna

For me, this year's Hanukkah miracle began in my kingdom's longstanding welcome of Jews and will continue in shared opportunities for the region

Nov 24, 2020, 9:37 PM

My first trip to Israel – when dream became reality

Amb. Houda Nonoo's airline ticket. (Courtesy)

As a Jew, I yearned to come. As a committed citizen of Bahrain, I waited for circumstances to allow such a visit. That time finally arrived.

Oct 28, 2020, 11:56 AM

Shalom and welcome to Bahrain

Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, speaks to Israeli journalists at the Bahrain Jewish Community Synagogue, October 18, 2020. (Matty Stern/US Embassy Jerusalem)

I was the first Bahraini female Jewish envoy to the US, so you can believe me when I tell you that my country is a bastion of religious freedom. Come see it for yourselves!

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About Me

Houda Nonoo served as Bahrain's ambassador to the United States from 2008-2013. She is the first Jew to be appointed an ambassador of Bahrain.