Iranian Jews get etrogim for Succot with help from UAE

JEWS IN Iran have been sent hundreds of etrogim to enable them to celebrate Succot with the help of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ordinarily the citron fruits – one of four species traditionally needed for the festival – would have been imported from Turkey, but supplies from there have been hit by the covid pandemic.

The Jewish community in the UAE stepped in to help by delivering around 500 etrogim in suitcases, along with myrtle, or hadass, another of the species which like the etrog is not native to Iran.

The country has its own crop of the other species to be used in services over the holiday, the lulav (palm tree fronds) and aravah (willow branches). Iran’s Jewish population is an estimated 8,500.

The operation was organised by the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, which helps communities across the Middle East, Africa and other regions.

Working with the Jewish Agency and the Meromim Foundation, the international organisation has also helped to ensure Jews in remote countries – including Khazakstan and Kyrgyzstan (pictured) – have all they need for Succot.

On the eve of the festival the alliance posted pictures from Uganda of a succot being put up as the country’s community prepared to celebrate.

The alliance also helped ensure Jews in Dubai and Abu Dhabi had all they needed for Succot, bringing in 300 sets of the four species. Chairman Rabbi Mendy Chitrik said: “It is natural for Jews in Muslim countries to help each other facilitate holiday needs to enable other Jews to carry out religious obligations.

“We have seen governments across the Islamic world are very much supportive of Jews practising Jewish life.”