New York Jews to visit Bahrain at invitation of the King

Members of a New York synagogue will visit the Arab country of Bahrain at the invitation of its monarch.

The West Hampton Synagogue will stop in Bahrain on the way to a congregational mission to Israel early in 2018, its rabbi, Marc Schneier, announced during holiday services.

The synagogue will become the first Jewish congregation to visit an Arab country in the Persian Gulf, the congregation’s president, Carol Levin, said in a statement.

The visit comes at the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the royal family of Bahrain, Levin said. Schneier has had a long relationship with the king, and in 2011 was the first rabbi to be hosted at the Royal Palace in Manama. The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the supporters of the rabbi’s Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

Bahrain is an island nation located off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It is home to a small Jewish community.

The government of Bahrain, which has longstanding ties with the American Jewish community, has reportedly indicated that it is open to ties with Israel. The king was quoted in recent days by Simon Wiesenthal Centre officials as telling them during their visit to the kingdom in February that he no longer sees a need for the Arab League boycott of Israel.