As of 2021, there were no Jews reported living in Afghanistan. The Jewish community of Afghanistan can be traced back at least 2,500 years. Today, most of the Afghan Jews have emigrated to Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Afghanistan
Page content
WJC Affiliate
In the News
See All
History
The Jewish community of Afghanistan can be traced back at least 800 years. In the 12th century, Benjamin of Tudela claimed that there were 80,000 Jews in the Ghazni on the River Gozan. The community was isolated and had little contact with the outside world. In the first half of the 19th century, many Persian Jews came to Afghanistan fleeing the forced conversion in Mashhad, and 40,000 Jews were living there in the second part of the 19th century. In 1948 there were some 5,000 Jews in the country, but the vast majority left the country for Israel in the early 1950s. Today nearly all the remaining Jews live in Kabul. There is a synagogue on Charshi Torabazein Street.
Relations with Israel
Aliya: Since 1948, 4,123 Afghan Jews have emigrated to Israel.
Kosher Food
For up to date information on Kosher restaurants and locations please see the Shamash Kosher Database
More Communities
See All
Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter
The latest from the Jewish world
