Raphael Ahren is the diplomatic correspondent at The Times of Israel.
People enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages at a restaurant overlooking the Marina district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 23, 2019 (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
An American rabbi with extensive ties to the Arab world is set to launch an effort to attract Jewish travelers to the Gulf, including to nations that have not yet established formal ties with Israel and have hitherto been closed off to Jewish tourists.
New York-based Rabbi Marc Schneier is set to formally announce the creation of the “American Jewish travel to the Gulf initiative” on Tuesday afternoon in Manama at a reception hosted by Bahrain’s Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani.
The Media Line Staff
The book
Sons of Abraham, by Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, and Imam Shamsi Ali, was launched in Dubai. At the event held by Motivate publishing on Sunday evening, Schneier lit candles for the fourth night of Hanukkah with Rabbi Elie Abadie, senior rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates.
The book, originally published in the United States, tells the story of Schneier and Ali’s friendship and discusses the contentious theological and political issues that frequently divide Jews and Muslims. Wake up to the Trusted Mideast News source Mideast Daily News Email