Bahrain’s Jewish former ambassador to the US, Huda Nonoo’s son has married in a strictly kosher wedding that was arranged by the Orthodox Union, the world’s largest kosher certification agency.
The ceremony was held at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain on Sunday.
The former diplomat posted photographs of the couple on her Twitter account describing it as a ‘monumental’ wedding.
According to the family, the couple, who are both in their 20s, reside in the UK although the groom is from Bahrain.
This is the first Jewish wedding in the kingdom after the signing of the Abraham Accords between Bahrain and Israel last year.
The wedding featured two additional ceremonies, a Shabbat Chatan and a henna ceremony. The former is an ancient custom in which a groom is called up to the Torah – the first part of the Jewish bible – on the Shabbat (seventh day of the Jewish week and is the day of rest and abstention from work) before the wedding.
“This wedding marks a new beginning for us in Bahrain and is an important moment for our family, the community here in Bahrain, and more broadly, for the Jewish community in the region,” said the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities (AGJC), president, Ebrahim Nonoo.
Ms Nonoo posted this photograph of the couple on social media yesterday
“The atmosphere was euphoric as we sat around the Chuppah (Jewish wedding canopy) which symbolises the new home being built by the couple. It was also symbolic of the opportunity to further grow Jewish life in the region.”
Mr Nonoo said the event opens doors for more Jewish weddings in the region.
“It’s our hope that it will lead to more young couples starting their families here and the further growth of our community,” he added.
The AGJC includes representatives from different GCC countries, under the guidance of Dubai-based spiritual leader, Rabbi Dr Elie Abadie.
Dr Abadie is the senior Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates, who officiated the wedding. “All weddings are exciting events as we celebrate the creation of a new Jewish family,” said Dr Abadie.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani and Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid inaugurated the Israeli Embassy in Manama last month.
National Carrier Gulf Air operated its first flight to Tel Aviv on September 30. The airline now operates two weekly services between Bahrain and Israel. Bahrain was once home to around 2,000 Jewish families, many having migrated here from Iraq and other countries, and now there are about 35 members remaining.
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