Jerusalem Chief Sephardi Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita participated in an interfaith religious conference held in Bahrain.

The former Rishon L’Tzion, who arrived under heavy security, spoke to religious leaders and criticized the Jewish community.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa hosted the interfaith conference, which brought many clerics from all over the world, including Arab countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and others. Rav Amar was invited alongside the others.

During the conference, Rav Amar spoke, stating that peace is the tool for maintaining Heavenly abundance in our world, and only the Almighty, who created heaven from fire and water “makes peace on high and can make peace among us. The rabbi added the importance of the clergy from whom the peace must begin.

Rav Amar stated that in recent years, there have been many countries taking steps towards peace, and that they should not be afraid of the leaders of the nations to take significant steps that reflect their will and the will of their people.

Rav Amar concluded with a bracha from Jerusalem to King Al Khalifa and his people, that an Israeli he entered Bahrain only with an invitation, and it is his hope that in the near future, there will be diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Rav Amar used the opportunity to meet with the remaining Jewish community, numbering 40 people, most arriving generations ago from Iraq.

The Jews of Bahrain told Rav Amar that in the area opposite the port, there is a marketplace today and the stores used to belong to them, and it was closed on Shabbos due to the lack of commerce. Today however, sadly, the Jews have lost most of their connection to Yiddishkheit.

The rav also saw a shul, which no longer hosts minyanim, not even on Yom Kippur, as some of the members of the local Jewish community fly to different countries to daven.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)