Since travel opened up, Israelis have been flocking to Dubai to tour the area, in addition to the businessmen looking to open up new markets and opportunities. An acquaintance who just went to Dubai makes it seem as if Israelis are everywhere. Travel and touring is great, and I assume by making the deal and the no-visa arrangements one of the things they wanted to benefit from was increased tourism. but still, to me it just looks like this is moving too fast.
But that is all ok.
What really got me was this news item I saw earlier today.
According to Hamechadesh, for the first time ever the Jewish community of the Emirates will hold a public menora lighting ceremony by the Burj Halifa building where the kosher restaurant is located.
Rav Levi Duchman, rav of the UAE, will lead the ceremony, lighting a menora that is more than 3 meters tall. They expect about 400 participants, made up of the local Jewish community members and Israeli tourists, to be followed by a kosher lmehadrin catered meal and musical performances.
Throughout Chanukah, the new Chabad shliach, Rav Levi Levitan, with his wife and 15 Chabad students from aroudn the world, will run Chanukah activities around the city for Israelis.
Best of luck to them. I just hope this is not happenig too fast. I hope the Dubaiins, the Emiratees, don't get a sense that the Israelis are taking over. I hope they don't get sick of us quickly. I hope none of our people there do anything to bring shame to our people.
I just have this growing sense of dread. Every time I see more of this in the news, I just get this feeling that something is about to pop. I hope it doesn't happen.
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