Israeli Minister holds morning prayer in Saudi Arabia during landmark visit
'Just as the windows in the house of Daniel were opened facing Jerusalem, so too in Riyadh we were able to pray with windows open facing Jerusalem,' Shlomo Karhi said.
Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi joined a Jewish morning prayer in Saudi Arabia as he leads an Israeli delegation to the Kingdom.
Karhi arrived in Riyadh along with Likud lawmaker and Knesset Economy Committee chairman, David Bitan, and representatives from the the postal service, Foreign Ministry, and Communications Ministry to participate in the Universal Postal Union’s 2023 Extraordinary Congress.
Karhi was pictured praying with other religious Jews in his hotel room, and reading from a Torah provided by a local.
“Just as the windows in the house of Daniel were opened facing Jerusalem, so too in Riyadh we were able to pray with windows open facing Jerusalem,” Karhi said following the prayer.
As he arrived in Riyadh with the Israeli delegation, Karhi said: “We’re here during the Sukkot holiday, at an international conference. We’ll meet with representatives from around the world, and will bring the peace between the State of Israel and Saudi Arabia closer.”
Saudi Arabia: Israeli communication minister celebrating the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot, and reading the Torah in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/3TGlG6R8P1
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 3, 2023
Bitan also commented on the normalisation talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, saying: “Everything starts with small steps, so this is the beginning, and we’ll see in the future how things develop for the benefit of the State of Israel and peace in the Middle East.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.






















