Zablon Simintov
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Zablon Simintov (b. 1960 in Turkmenistan) is a Jewish-Turkmen-Afghan carpet trader and caretaker of a synagogue in Kabul. As of 2005, he has become known as likely to be the only Jew remaining in Afghanistan. [1][2][3]
The Jewish population in Afghanistan once numbered approximately 5,000. This number rapidly fell and they emigrated to Israel or the United States.[4] Simitov previously lived with another Jew, Ishaq Levin, who died of a natural cause on January 26, 2005. The story of Simintov and Levin was the basis for a British play.[5]
Simintov takes care of the last synagogue, said to be in disrepair, in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. He lives in the building and receives donations from Jewish groups abroad and sympathetic Muslim locals.[6] His wife and daughters live in Israel.[7] When asked during a recent interview whether he would go to Israel, Simentov retorted, "Go to Israel? What business do I have there? Why should I leave?" [6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Afghan Jew Becomes Country's One and Only, Washington Post
- ^ Now I’m the only Jew in the city, The Times
- ^ 'Only one Jew' now in Afghanistan, BBC news
- ^ NEW YORK, June 19, 2007 (RFE/RL), Afghan Jews in New York City
- ^ Totally Jewish.com - Hannah Schraer - Tuesday, August 15, 2006, Fringe Benefits
- ^ a b San Francisco Chronicle, The last Jew in Afghanistan by Jason Motlagh, Chronicle Foreign Service, September 2, 2007
- ^ Jewish Virtual Library, The Virtual Jewish History Tour (Afghanistan) by Alden Oreck
