Saudi-born Israeli David Shunker appealed to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week to be able to visit his hometown.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
"I am the last survivor of the Jewish community that lived near the southern Saudi Arabian city of Najran," Shunker , who is approaching 80, wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal piece. "I don't know how long God will permit me to live and my dream is to bid farewell to my beloved birthplace. Please grant me this wish."
He also recalled childhood memories of growing up in Najran and shed light on life in one of the most fascinating Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
"Around sixty Jewish families once lived in Najran and the small villages around it. Some worked for King Abd-al-Aziz Ibn Saud in the 1930s and 1940s, maintaining his soldiers' weapons. Others were employed as locksmiths, carpenters and tanners," Shunker wrote. " Contrary to the rule in neighboring Yemen, the Jews of Najran were allowed to carry the traditional dagger, the jambiya, on their belts. To this day, I remember the king's soldiers spoiling me with sweets and patting my curly hair."
He noted that in 1934 Najran became part of Saudi Arabia (formerly Yemen) and that Jews – now under the protection of the king – felt safe.
In 1948, when the State of Israel was established, Shunker's family, and the entire Jewish community, had to leave.
"In 1948, the Jews were called by the king's representatives to gather in the main square. A convoy of camels was waiting there for 260 people, mostly children like me. I was born in 1944. Our families' belongings were loaded onto the camels and before sunset we began walking toward the Yemeni border," he recalled.
"In recent years, the world has seen profound changes in Saudi Arabia. These changes have triggered great hopes for the future of the kingdom. In that spirit of hope for the future, I beg His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and His Highness Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman to allow me to visit Najran while I am still strong enough to travel."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
