Chabad in Saudi Arabia
Chabad-Lubavitch and Saudi Arabia: no official Chabad emissary, with the needs of Jews said to be met from the UAE; the self-styled Riyadh rabbi Jacob Yisrael Herzog works from within the Chabad community but without the movement's appointment
| Chabad-Lubavitch in Saudi Arabia
| |
|---|---|
| Type | No official Chabad emissary (Chabad spokesman, 2021); one self-appointed rabbi with Chabad ties |
| Founded | No official Chabad body found |
| Headquarters | None (Herzog reported a rented space in Riyadh in 2023) |
| Area served | Saudi Arabia, served mainly from the UAE according to Chabad |
| Key people | Jacob Yisrael Herzog (self-appointed "rabbi of Riyadh"; not an accredited Chabad emissary as of 2021); Motti Seligson (Chabad spokesman) |
| Remarks | Expatriate Jews are also covered by the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities (non-Chabad) |
Chabad-Lubavitch in Saudi Arabia has no officially appointed emissary. In December 2021 a spokesman for the movement, Rabbi Motti Seligson, told The Times of Israel: "Chabad-Lubavitch does not currently have an emissary to Saudi Arabia. The needs of Jews in Saudi Arabia are largely being met by Chabad in the UAE — from where kosher food and other needs are provided for."[1] The most visible rabbi in the kingdom is Jacob Yisrael Herzog, an American-Israeli rabbi whose family belongs to the Chabad community. In 2021 he described his work as separate from the organised movement. By 2023 press reports were calling him "a Chabad emissary" running "the first Chabad house in Riyadh", a role he had "appointed himself" to.[1][2] Saudi Arabia has no official synagogue, and it forbids the public practice of religions other than Islam.[1]
Emissaries and status
The movement's position. The only explicit statement from the Chabad movement found is Seligson's in 2021 (quoted above). A Chabad spokesperson "confirmed that the movement had not sent a representative to Saudi Arabia".[1] No later statement from Chabad headquarters was found.
Jacob Yisrael Herzog. The Times of Israel (Carrie Keller-Lynn, December 2021) reported:
- Herzog, then 45, was born in the US and lived in Israel. He had "made five trips to Saudi Arabia" since summer 2021 on a US passport, under his legal name, Jacob Levkoff Herzog, using a tourist visa.
- He had "little Jewish communal experience beyond briefly serving as a chairman of a Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Jerusalem", and ran a seed business, ShneorSeed.
- He had openly used the title "Chief Rabbi of Saudi Arabia" until recently.
- "Although he and his family are part of the Chabad community, Herzog is clear that his efforts in Saudi Arabia are not linked to the organized Chabad movement." His wife, Devorah Leah, said: "We are the emissaries of the [Lubavitcher] Rebbe in Saudi Arabia."
- By his own admission he had not been in contact with the Saudi government.[1]
In 2023 i24NEWS, republished by Ynet, called Herzog "a Chabad emissary" who "decided to establish the first Chabad house in Riyadh" and "appointed himself what he says is the first rabbi in the kingdom's modern history". It reported that the centre was in its "second year of activity operating out of a rented space".[2] All Israel News called him a "Chabad Rabbi" who "has proclaimed himself the first chief rabbi of Saudi Arabia".[3]
- Editor's note: The press label "Chabad emissary" (2023) conflicts with the movement's 2021 statement. No source shows that Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, which appoints emissaries, ever appointed Herzog. He is best described as a rabbi from the Chabad community working on his own initiative. No Saudi registration of any Jewish body was found.
Institutions and services
- Riyadh centre. In 2023 Herzog described prayer services, holiday meals and outreach at the rented space, and plans for "a proper center, a proper mikvah ritual bath, a synagogue, a day school for children". He said a Passover seder used grape juice because alcohol is banned.[2]
- Help for visitors. Travellers told The Times of Israel in 2021 that Herzog had helped them find kosher food in supermarkets and Shabbat times.[1]
- From the UAE. According to the Chabad spokesman, kosher food "and other needs" come from Chabad in the UAE.[1]
- Gulf community body. The Association of Gulf Jewish Communities, founded in 2021 with a Saudi member community, is led by the Dubai-based Rabbi Elie Abadie. It told The Times of Israel that it "recognizes Rabbis that have been appointed and selected to their position by the Jewish community and the governments of those countries". Herzog had no formal relationship with it.[4][1]
Relations with the state and the royal court
The Times of Israel placed Herzog's campaign in the context of the liberalisation led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It quoted Yoel Guzansky of the Institute for National Security Studies: "There's no tolerance toward any religion in Saudi Arabia other than Islam, so far." It also cited a US State Department report that the kingdom "does not officially permit most non-Muslim clergy to enter the country for the purpose of conducting religious service". An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said "there's no Jewish community [in Saudi Arabia]".[1]
- Editor's note: No meeting between a Chabad emissary and the Saudi royal court or government was found. There is also no evidence of a Chabad role in Israeli–Saudi normalisation talks. Later reports of Herzog hosting events at the homes of Saudi royals were not verified for this page.
Funding and donors
In 2021 Herzog said his work was self-funded, though he asked for donations through his website. He was seeking money for seven ritual baths "each at over $1 million".[1]
- Editor's note: No accounts or donors were found.
Controversies
Jews living in or regularly visiting the Gulf told The Times of Israel that Herzog's public approach endangered expatriate Jews who keep a low profile. Four of them said: "This is not how things are done here ... He's acting like a bull in a china shop." A Gulf-based source said: "he literally just announced himself as a chief rabbi".[1] (Critical press; anonymous sources.) No legal action or official Saudi measure against Herzog was found.
Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States
The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States lists no rabbi for Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia is not on its communities list. Herzog is not among its listed members.[5][6] The nearest ARIS members are the UAE rabbis of Chabad of United Arab Emirates.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb 2021 | Association of Gulf Jewish Communities founded, including a Saudi community |
| 2021 | Jacob Yisrael Herzog makes five trips from summer onwards; in December a Chabad spokesman says the movement has no emissary in Saudi Arabia |
| 2022–23 | Herzog runs a rented "Chabad house" in Riyadh (his account, 2023) |
See also
- Chabad-Lubavitch in West Asia
- Zionist connections in Saudi Arabia
- Chabad of United Arab Emirates
- Chabad Lubavitch of Bahrain
- Chabad in Iran
- Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Carrie Keller-Lynn, "In Saudi Arabia, a rabbi angles to lead a Jewish community that doesn't exist", The Times of Israel, 27 December 2021. Critical press; includes a Chabad spokesman's statement.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Emily Frances (i24NEWS), "1st rabbi of Riyadh says local Jews emerging from shadows in Saudi Arabia", Ynetnews, 2023. Press, mainly Herzog's own account.
- ↑ All Israel News Staff, "Chabad in Saudi Arabia openly offers Jewish religious services to Jewish expats", All Israel News, 15 August 2023. Press, based on i24NEWS.
- ↑ Association of Gulf Jewish Communities, "Jews in 6 Gulf nations form first association to enhance regional Jewish life", 15 February 2021. Self-published (non-Chabad).
- ↑ Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, "ARIS Rabbis", accessed 19 October 2026. Self-published; mainly Chabad-led.
- ↑ Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, "Communities", accessed 19 October 2026. Self-published.