Afghanistan’s final Jew leaves after Taliban takeover

The final member of Afghanistan’s Jewish neighborhood has left the nation following the Taliban takeover, an Israeli-American businessman who organized his evacuation advised AFP Thursday.

Zebulon Simentov started his journey out of Afghanistan on Friday and arrived in a “neighboring country” Wednesday, mentioned Moti Kahana, who runs a US-based non-public safety agency.For many years, Simentov refused to depart Afghanistan — surviving a Soviet invasion, lethal civil warfare, brutal rule by the Taliban and the US-led occupation of his homeland.Having already endured the Taliban’s regime from 1996 to 2001, Simentov was reluctant to go when Kahana’s safety crew arrived 10 days earlier than his departure.“At that time, he did not want to come out,” mentioned Kahana, who defined to Simentov that he was susceptible to being killed by Islamic State-Khorasan militants.”But he listened and I think he came to the conclusion himself,” Kahana recalled.Simentov requested Kahana if they may additionally take his “best friend” and their youngsters, so 29 neighbors joined him on the journey out.Kahana mentioned that Simentov has household in New York and plans to affix them there quickly, hopefully across the Yom Kippur vacation subsequent week.“He’s definitely coming,” Kahana added.Born within the Fifties within the western metropolis of Herat, Simentov moved to Kabul in the course of the Soviet invasion within the early Nineteen Eighties for the capital’s then relative stability.Over the many years, all Simentov’s family members left — together with his spouse and two daughters.But Simentov stayed put, regardless of the Taliban attempting to transform him to Islam and imprisoning him 4 occasions.He continued to mark Jewish new 12 months Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Kabul’s solely synagogue.“I’ve resisted. I’ve made the faith of Moses proud right here,” he advised AFP throughout an interview earlier this 12 months.Jews lived in Afghanistan for greater than 2,500 years, with tens of hundreds as soon as residing in Herat, the place 4 synagogues nonetheless stand — testimony to the neighborhood’s historic presence.But they’ve steadily left the nation because the nineteenth century, with many now residing in Israel.Also learn: Taliban say council will govern Afghanistan for now, Ghani breaks silence | Top 10 developmentsAlso learn: How India evacuated Indian nationals amid Taliban patrol in Kabul | Inside particulars