Zebulon Simantov, Afghanistan’s last Jew, arrived in Israel last week after being rescued from Kabul in 2021. After spending three years in Istanbul, he moved to Israel due to ill health. Simantov will settle in Ashdod, where he has family, including an ex-wife, daughters, and five siblings.
Simantov had cared for Kabul’s synagogue and lived under Taliban rule. His evacuation was led by Moti Kahana, an Israeli-American businessman, and involved Chabad Rabbi Mendy Chitrik. Despite his eccentricities, Simantov was eventually brought out with the help of Jewish organizations.
The rescue was complicated by Simantov’s demands for money and his insistence on helping his neighbors. What was initially a plan to evacuate 18 people expanded to 31, including Simantov, due to his efforts to save persecuted minority groups.
A key part of the operation was ensuring Simantov signed a religious divorce for his estranged wife, which had been a long-standing issue. After overcoming these challenges, Simantov is now safely in Israel, marking the end of Afghanistan’s Jewish presence.
