Istanbul-based rabbi behind the evacuation of Afghanistan's 'last Jew'

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 24: An Istanbul-based rabbi who explores Turkey’s Jewish heritage through his travels across the country gained new distinction last week for helping to evacuate to safety, along with Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, the man known as Afghanistan’s last Jew. Rabbi Mendy Chitrik is chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS), a group that works to connect and support the activities of rabbis serving Jewish communities in predominantly Muslim countries. Born in Israel, Chitrik has been living in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, since 2003, and he took an active role in evacuating Zebulun Simantov, who arrived in Istanbul on Oct. 17 after Turkey granted him a visa. The 44-year-old rabbi, who is fluent in Turkish, is a supervisor for kosher food by profession, checking if companies abide by the requirements of Jewish law, similar to Muslim halal standards. Two years ago he was elected chairman of ARIS, which brings together 45 rabbis in 14 predominantly Muslim countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Kosovo, and many others. “We also try to help isolated Jews who live in various places,” Chitrik, wearing a kippah (yarmulke) and fringe tassel (tzitzit), told Anadolu Agency. “It's much easier to help a Jew in Afghanistan or Lebanon or in Libya when it’s an organization (helping them) which is based in Muslim countries than to start sending them Jewish materials from New York or Brussels,” he explained during an interview at Istanbul’s historic Tofre Begadim (Schneider) Synagogue, a building which today is used as an art gallery. So the group was in touch with Simantov, 62, “providing him with his Jewish needs,” Chitrik said. When the Taliban rapidly swept in and took over Kabul this August, “we were worried” about Simantov, he said, adding that he had a long history with the Taliban, and in the past was even briefly arrested and later released. (Footage by Atilla Sevil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)