Nachum welcomed Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates and the Honorary Chairman of the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities, to this morning’s to discuss the first organization for the Jewish communities of the Gulf States – the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities (AGJC).

For the first time ever, the local Jewish communities of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will come together to form the first organization for the local Jewish communities – the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities (AGJC). The organization will be led by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie and Ebrahim Dawood Nonoo (who will serve as president). Additionally, there will be six board members – one from each GCC country and together they will forge the path forward for growing Jewish life in the Gulf.

Already the group is working to establish the Beth Din of Arabia (the first Jewish Court in the region – with the blessing of local authorities) to assist with issues pertaining to personal status, inheritance, and voluntary business dispute resolutions in the region. The Arabian Kosher Certification Agency is in the process of being created to oversee kashrut (kosher certification) regionally using the same set of standards throughout all six Gulf countries, thereby making it easier for Jewish individuals to live in or travel around the Gulf.