1359:
230:. Simintov was detained, jailed and abused several times by Taliban militants during this period, and was also extorted by the group at his carpet warehouse in 2001. Simintov is also known during this time period for his heavily publicized feud with Yitzhak Levi (Ishaq Levin), another Afghan Jew; it has been claimed that the two were expelled from a Taliban-led jail due to their constant fighting.
1383:
1371:
421:
taking him hostage, which resulted in his exit from the country. After leaving
Afghanistan, Simintov granted his wife a divorce. A month later, Simintov's distant cousin, 83-year-old Tova Moradi, also fled Afghanistan, to Albania in October 2021, fearing for her safety. Moradi was known as Jewish
335:, and his two daughters reside in Israel. When asked during an interview whether he would also emigrate to Israel and join his family, Simintov retorted, "Go to Israel? What business do I have there? Why should I leave?" In a 2007 video interview with
422:
among her neighbors and maintained some Jewish practices, but had been disavowed by Kabul's Jewish community for marrying a Muslim man, though she was not known to have converted to Islam. Thus, Moradi was apparently the "last Jew in
Afghanistan."
40:
173:
and Rabbi Moshe
Margaretten from the Tzedek Association. A month later, it was discovered that Simentov may not have been the last Jew living in Afghanistan; a distant relative of Simintov, Tova Moradi, fled Afghanistan for
851:
403:
in the efforts to rescue him from Kabul. While he insisted he would stay to take care of the country's last synagogue, it was later reported that his decision may have been influenced by his refusal to give his wife a
864:
Unfortunately, their feuding also allowed the
Taliban to run away with the synagogue's Torah. Scribed in the 15th century, the scroll was allegedly taken by Taliban's interior minister and sold on the black
1016:
341:, Simintov suggested that he may be interested in moving to Israel to join his two daughters. However, he again expressed reluctance to leave in a 2019 interview, stating: "I don't speak
417:
Eventually, he left in
September 2021 with several neighbouring families, stating that it was not the Taliban, but the possibility of other, more radical Islamist groups such as
841:
548:
1235:
1045:
227:
414:
refusal can lead to a prison sentence in Israel. Another report stated he refused to leave as he owes money to his neighbours and wished to honour his debts.
903:
215:
1428:
1262:
1292:
877:
815:
783:
418:
383:
of groups such as the
Taliban after the US military began withdrawing. On 15 August 2021, three weeks before the first of the High Holy Days,
1438:
574:
359:
In
November 2013, Simintov announced that he would close his kebab restaurant in March 2014 due to declining business after the reduction of
702:
396:
1182:
1098:
753:
1433:
250:, until the latter's death on 26 January 2005 at around 80 years of age. The story of Simintov and Levin as the supposed only remaining
661:
431:
251:
134:
94:
203:
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Simintov lived alone in a small synagogue room and received donations from Jewish groups abroad, as well as from sympathetic
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846:
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only in private and was hesitant to allow visitors into the synagogue in Kabul that he had been maintaining.
526:
521:
1443:
1408:
479:
406:
380:
162:
64:
842:"The last Jews in Afghanistan argued so much the Taliban kicked them out of prison and stole their Torah"
949:
262:; while Levin had initially welcomed Simintov into Kabul's synagogue following the latter's return from
641:
266:
in 1998, the two grew to greatly dislike each other due to personal feuds and religious disagreements.
1423:
1403:
1342:
601:
788:
646:
710:
1363:
1160:
944:
758:
615:
400:
387:. Simintov remained in Kabul despite having been given chances to leave including by businessman
384:
279:, Simintov highlighted the difficulties of being the isolated and only remaining practitioner of
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1236:"Zébulon Simantov, le dernier juif d'Afghanistan, ne quittera pas le pays malgré les talibans"
1156:
977:
275:
1375:
1270:
669:
549:""I Have Had Enough": Zabulon Simintov, the Last-Known Jew in Afghanistan Returns to Israel"
388:
315:
187:
170:
166:
619:
342:
259:
239:
150:
122:
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but returned to Kabul in 1998, by which time the
Taliban had officially established the
1387:
1152:
Afghanistan's last Jew
Zebulon Simentov had decided to stay on amid humanitarian crisis
1102:
376:
375:
In April 2021, Simintov announced that he would leave
Afghanistan for Israel after the
1397:
392:
360:
270:
724:
683:
353:
263:
223:
1126:"As Taliban take charge, uncertain future for Afghanistan's Jewish heritage sites"
254:
served as the basis for a British play, as well as the Belgian-French documentary
1183:"Last Afghan Jew will be safe, Taliban spokesman (unwittingly) tells Israeli TV"
816:"The last, last Jew? Simentov relative flees Afghanistan after Taliban takeover"
247:
194:
in 1959, where he spent most of his early life until his eventual relocation to
138:
165:, he left Afghanistan with the help of a private security company organized by
1293:"Last Jew to leave Afghanistan divorces wife after refusing for over 20 years"
1150:
998:
292:
39:
1240:
784:"Afghanistan's last Jew finally leaves the country, reportedly headed to US"
457:
207:
154:
137:
former carpet trader and restaurateur. Between 2005 and his evacuation from
149:
still living in Afghanistan. He was also the caretaker of and lived in the
1099:"Afghanistan: Taliban declare victory after President Ghani leaves Kabul"
878:"'Last Afghani Jews' kicked out of Taliban prison for being too annoying"
729:
391:, who offered to pay for a private airplane to take him to Israel. Rabbi
311:
303:
288:
75:
1050:
575:"Afghanistan's last Jew departs for Israel after granting wife divorce"
346:
328:
296:
280:
199:
175:
332:
320:
283:
in Afghanistan. He had to obtain special permission from the nearest
219:
142:
118:
45:
258:. Simintov deprecated Levin in an interview with British journalist
284:
195:
191:
158:
60:
1021:
364:
243:
211:
114:
146:
1318:'Last Jew in Afghanistan' loses title to hidden Jewish family
1210:"Last Jew in Afghanistan refuses to give wife Jewish divorce"
295:, to slaughter his own livestock for meat in accordance with
222:, Simintov did not permanently relocate; he briefly lived in
242:
alongside Ishaq Levin, who was thought to be the only other
1046:"Last Jew in Afghanistan faces ruin as kebabs fail to sell"
1017:"When the Taliban realized, I was a Jew, they let me go"
1263:"Afghanistan's Last Jew Leaves After Taliban Takeover"
1044:
Donati, Jessica; Harooni, Mirwais (12 November 2013).
1347:
1074:"Afghanistan's last known Jew is leaving for Israel"
455:
100:
89:
81:
71:
53:
23:
814:Ben Zion, Ilan; Semini, Llazar (29 October 2021).
725:"The New York rabbi evacuating desperate Afghans"
306:. Simintov received regular shipments of special
218:by this time, with the majority settling down in
206:, which forced him to move into the city's only
198:. His residence was severely damaged during the
349:." Simintov has also said that he knows former
178:in October 2021 with her twenty grandchildren.
145:in 2021, he was widely believed to be the only
602:The Virtual Jewish History Tour (Afghanistan)
8:
16:Second-last Jew to leave Afghanistan in 2021
945:"In Afghanistan, a Jewish Community of One"
642:"Afghan Jew Becomes Country's One and Only"
463:
38:
20:
161:. On 7 September 2021, shortly after the
943:Nelson, Soraya Sarhaddi (19 July 2007).
1354:
1000:The last Jew in Afghanistan - 12 Sep 07
507:
443:
302:as this can normally be done only by a
604:by Alden Oreck, Jewish Virtual Library
597:
595:
1163:from the original on 21 December 2021
809:
807:
778:
776:
515:
513:
511:
7:
1343:The Virtual Jewish Tour: Afghanistan
854:from the original on 1 November 2019
397:Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States
371:Taliban takeover and Simintov's exit
1234:Poyet, Stanislas (20 August 2021).
971:Garfinkel, Jonathan (29 May 2013).
752:Sharon, Jeremy (8 September 2021).
684:"'Only one Jew' now in Afghanistan"
614:Langston, Henry (2 November 2011).
520:Motlagh, Jason (2 September 2007).
126:
1429:Afghan expatriates in Turkmenistan
1124:Rosenfeld, Arno (17 August 2021).
840:Laura E. Adkin (31 October 2019).
662:"Now I'm the only Jew in the city"
640:Aizenman, N.C. (27 January 2005).
432:History of the Jews in Afghanistan
331:locals. His wife, from whom he is
14:
902:Hannah Schraer (15 August 2006).
318:. He has stated that he wore his
1381:
1369:
1357:
1208:Pasko, Simcha (18 August 2021).
701:Martin Fletcher (14 June 2008).
304:specially-trained Jewish butcher
1072:Friedman, Gabe (4 April 2021).
882:The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
579:The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
410:(a Jewish religious divorce).
228:Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
1:
754:"Last Jew leaves Afghanistan"
703:"The last Jew in Afghanistan"
616:"The Last Jew in Afghanistan"
522:"The last Jew in Afghanistan"
1439:Afghan expatriates in Israel
129:; born 1959), also known as
456:
314:from Afghan Jews living in
57:1959 (age 64–65)
1465:
1434:Afghan emigrants to Israel
930:Miami Jewish Film Festival
385:the Taliban captured Kabul
186:Simintov was born into an
847:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
451:
269:In an interview with the
216:departed from the country
93:Being the last remaining
37:
30:
1324:. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
379:in September, fearing a
202:'s rise to power in the
31:
973:"A Congregation of One"
527:San Francisco Chronicle
367:forces in Afghanistan.
204:Second Afghan Civil War
157:in the capital city of
1338:History of Afghan Jews
238:Simintov lived at the
190:family in the city of
65:Kingdom of Afghanistan
1419:Afghan businesspeople
370:
210:. Despite that most
1320:. 1 December 2021.
1299:. 26 September 2021
1297:The Times of Israel
1187:The Times of Israel
1078:The Times of Israel
914:on 3 November 2006.
820:The Times of Israel
789:The Times of Israel
647:The Washington Post
297:Jewish dietary laws
252:Jews in Afghanistan
121:: زابلون سیمینتوف;
44:Simintov holding a
1322:The Jerusalem Post
1273:. 8 September 2021
1214:The Jerusalem Post
1159:. 17 August 2021.
792:. 7 September 2021
759:The Jerusalem Post
690:. 25 January 2005.
401:Turkish government
95:Jew in Afghanistan
1449:Turkmenistan Jews
1414:People from Herat
1025:. 4 February 2019
908:TotallyJewish.com
904:"Fringe benefits"
733:. 13 October 2021
672:on 11 March 2007.
256:Kabbalah in Kabul
108:
107:
1456:
1386:
1385:
1384:
1374:
1373:
1372:
1362:
1361:
1360:
1353:
1325:
1315:
1309:
1308:
1306:
1304:
1289:
1283:
1282:
1280:
1278:
1271:Associated Press
1259:
1253:
1252:
1250:
1248:
1231:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1220:
1205:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1189:. 17 August 2021
1179:
1173:
1172:
1170:
1168:
1147:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1136:
1121:
1115:
1114:
1112:
1110:
1105:. 15 August 2021
1095:
1089:
1088:
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1069:
1063:
1062:
1060:
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1041:
1035:
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1007:
1001:
996:
990:
989:
987:
985:
968:
962:
961:
959:
957:
940:
934:
933:
926:"Cabal in Kabul"
922:
916:
915:
910:. Archived from
899:
893:
892:
890:
888:
874:
868:
867:
861:
859:
837:
831:
830:
828:
826:
811:
802:
801:
799:
797:
780:
771:
770:
768:
766:
749:
743:
742:
740:
738:
721:
715:
714:
713:on 16 June 2008.
709:. Archived from
698:
692:
691:
680:
674:
673:
668:. Archived from
658:
652:
651:
637:
631:
630:
628:
626:
611:
605:
599:
590:
589:
587:
585:
571:
565:
564:
562:
560:
545:
539:
538:
536:
534:
517:
495:
492:Zabolon Simantov
488:Zabolon Simentov
484:Zebulon Simentov
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
461:
453:
448:
389:Mordechai Kahana
351:Afghan President
171:Mordechai Kahana
167:Israeli American
163:Taliban takeover
131:Zebulon Simentov
128:
85:Zebulon Simentov
82:Other names
42:
21:
1464:
1463:
1459:
1458:
1457:
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839:
838:
834:
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813:
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805:
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782:
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774:
764:
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583:
581:
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568:
558:
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555:. 23 April 2021
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428:
373:
271:Jewish American
260:Martin Fletcher
240:Kabul synagogue
236:
188:Orthodox Jewish
184:
151:Kabul synagogue
127:זבולון סימן-טוב
111:Zablon Simintov
67:
58:
49:
33:
32:زابلون سیمینتوف
26:
25:Zablon Simintov
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1332:External links
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1327:
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1226:
1200:
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1116:
1103:Deutsche Welle
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832:
803:
772:
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650:. p. A10.
632:
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553:Jewish Journal
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377:High Holy Days
372:
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183:
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106:
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98:
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91:
90:Known for
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28:
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24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
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3:
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1444:Bukharan Jews
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
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1409:Living people
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409:
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399:involved the
398:
394:
393:Mendy Chitrik
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356:personally.
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246:remaining in
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189:
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135:Afghan Jewish
132:
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103:
99:
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
77:
74:
70:
66:
62:
56:
52:
48:in March 2005
47:
41:
36:
29:
22:
19:
1321:
1313:
1301:. Retrieved
1296:
1287:
1277:14 September
1275:. Retrieved
1266:
1257:
1247:14 September
1245:. Retrieved
1239:
1229:
1217:. Retrieved
1213:
1203:
1193:14 September
1191:. Retrieved
1186:
1177:
1165:. Retrieved
1151:
1145:
1135:14 September
1133:. Retrieved
1129:
1119:
1107:. Retrieved
1093:
1083:18 September
1081:. Retrieved
1077:
1067:
1055:. Retrieved
1049:
1039:
1027:. Retrieved
1020:
1011:
994:
982:. Retrieved
976:
966:
954:. Retrieved
948:
938:
929:
920:
912:the original
907:
897:
885:. Retrieved
881:
872:
863:
856:. Retrieved
845:
835:
823:. Retrieved
819:
796:14 September
794:. Retrieved
787:
765:14 September
763:. Retrieved
757:
747:
735:. Retrieved
728:
719:
711:the original
706:
696:
687:
678:
670:the original
665:
656:
645:
635:
623:. Retrieved
609:
582:. Retrieved
578:
569:
557:. Retrieved
552:
543:
531:. Retrieved
525:
491:
487:
483:
446:
416:
411:
405:
374:
358:
354:Ashraf Ghani
336:
326:
319:
310:supplies on
307:
299:
274:
268:
264:Turkmenistan
255:
237:
224:Turkmenistan
214:had already
185:
169:businessman
130:
110:
109:
18:
1424:Afghan Jews
1404:1959 births
1364:Afghanistan
1057:28 November
1029:28 November
984:28 November
956:28 November
825:28 November
737:20 December
533:28 November
473:A good sign
248:Afghanistan
153:, the only
139:Afghanistan
72:Nationality
1398:Categories
502:References
381:resurgence
345:. I am an
338:Al Jazeera
293:Uzbekistan
234:Later life
182:Early life
1376:Biography
1303:3 October
1241:Le Figaro
1219:18 August
1167:17 August
1109:16 August
666:The Times
625:17 August
480:romanized
458:siman tov
454: (
333:estranged
273:magazine
208:synagogue
155:synagogue
1161:Archived
852:Archived
730:BBC News
707:NBC News
688:BBC News
584:30 April
559:30 April
452:סימן טוב
426:See also
361:American
316:New York
312:Passover
289:Tashkent
133:, is an
101:Children
1388:Judaism
1350:Portals
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419:IS-KP
285:rabbi
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1157:WION
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1085:2023
1059:2020
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