UAE Embassy in UK hosts screening of film about UAE’s first Jewish community

An award-winning documentary about a small Jewish community donating handwritten Torah scrolls in memory Sheikh Zayedscreened at a special event in London this week.

amen-amen-amen Discover the story behind the community gift, given to President Sheikh Mohammed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in the Year of Tolerance 2019.

The documentary, which has won many festival awards, traces the events leading up to that moment.

The film’s director and producer Tom Gallagher joined members of the Jewish community and diplomats at a special screening of the documentary on Wednesday hosted by the UAE Embassy in London.

Gallagher said the documentary tells the story of the creation of a Jewish community in Dubai, the first in an Arab country in centuries, and its donation of Sefer Torah scrolls.

He says National: “I hope this documentary will broaden people’s horizons about what is possible when people of different faith traditions create thriving communities and communities.

“My team and I have been very enlightening about the reactions of people after watching the film and the reactions of film festivals around the world.”

Mansour AbhurThe UAE ambassador to the UK said the documentary was testament to the UAE’s belief in a “tolerant, diverse and inclusive society”.

“We have long prioritized religious freedom because we recognize that a strong and confident society is one where people of all faith backgrounds can live together in peace.

“amen-amen-amen A powerful testament to the UAE’s true commitment to these values,” he added.

The event, which took place at the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge, was also attended by Simon Ed from the documentary.

Mr Eder moved back to London in 2014, where he now lives, but in 2010 he and his wife became residents of Dubai, where they co-founded the city’s first Jewish community.

“My wife got pregnant with our firstborn in 2010 and we decided to either do something to build a Jewish community or we were going back to London,” he said.

Soon after, the couple met a rabbi in Sri Lanka who had been in touch with someone from Abu Dhabi who had an email database of Jews living in the UAE.

They contacted those on the list, and in the process established a Jewish community in Dubai, signed early on Abraham Accords.

“The very best friends we used to sit with on Friday nights had a home in Jumeirah, and it really became the center of life in the Jewish community there,” he said.

“The fact that there was a Jewish community there, no matter how small, was actually helping little but important, and that gave the Abraham Accords local significance.”

the community has Continued to thrive since the agreementalong with the establishment of kosher restaurants, other Jewish-owned businesses and the first kosher nursery in the Bay Area.

At the time of Sefer Torah’s donation, Mr Eder had moved back to the UK but was interviewed as one of the founding members of his community.

“The UAE’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Sarna, spoke about how he sees it as a very important milestone in the relationship between Jews and Arabs in the region,” Mr Eder said.

“No one has ever done this before, donating a Torah scroll. It is very hoped that the House of Abraham, home to synagogues, mosques and churches, this Sefer Torah will be housed in the synagogue.”

Updated: 11/11/2022 3:34pm