For the first time in more than half a century, Bahrain witnessed a Jewish wedding, which has been described as a "milestone" for the Jewish community in the Gulf state by the website "Times of Israel." Bahrain and the UAE, which had not engaged in wars with Israel, normalized relations with Israel on September 15, 2020, followed by Sudan and Morocco.
The wedding took place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama and received a kosher certification with the help of the Orthodox Union. The groom is the son of Houda Nounou, Bahrain's former ambassador to the United States and a member of the Jewish community in Bahrain. Nounou expressed on her Twitter account that it was a grand wedding, which is what every mother desires.
Ibrahim Dawood Nounou, the head of the Jewish community in Bahrain, regarded the wedding as an important moment for their family and the Jewish community in Bahrain and the region. He added that the atmosphere was filled with joy as they sat around the chuppah (the Jewish wedding canopy) symbolizing a new home.
The account “Israel in Arabic” on Twitter remarked: "One of the fruits of peace between Israel and Bahrain! A vibrant Jewish life with the first Jewish wedding in the kingdom in 52 years." According to the site, leaders of the Jewish community welcomed the wedding as a sign of the resurgence of Jews in Bahrain, expressing hope that more young people will raise families there.
Despite having a population of only 1.5 million, Bahrain has a Jewish community that has lived in the small Gulf state for 140 years. A group of Iraqi Jews arrived in Bahrain in the late 19th century in search of job opportunities. Although lacking education, they found work in the garment industry, according to "Jerusalem Post." Jews have achieved success in Bahraini society through trade and political presence in the Shura Council. Houda Nounou was a former member of the Shura Council, as was Ibrahim Nounou, who was the first Jew to obtain membership in the council appointed by Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
