Rav Ovadia Dahan, chairman of Ashdod's religious council, came to the apartment of Zebulon Simantov this week and affixed a mezuzah at the entrance to his flat in the city's absorption hostel for new olim. Siman Tov, known as the last Jew who remained in Afghanistan's Jewish community, reached Israel last November after a rescue operation that took him through the United States and Turkey.
Siman Tov's life story is extraordinary. For years he lived in Kabul, and when his family and the rest of the Jewish community left the country as the security situation deteriorated, he chose to stay behind. His reason: devotion to Kabul's ancient shul, which he insisted on guarding even when he became the last Jew in the city.
When the Taliban took control of the country and the danger to his life intensified, he could no longer continue. At the end of 2021 he was extracted in a special operation, traveled through the United States and Turkey, and in November 2024 made aliyah to Israel.
He now lives in Ashdod and is trying to integrate into life in Israel, struggling with Hebrew, which he is working to learn. This week he asked Rav Dahan to come to his home and affix a mezuzah at the entrance to his apartment. Rav Dahan agreed gladly and came to the Rishonim hostel.
He was received warmly, and at the ceremony, as Rav Dahan affixed the mezuzah at the entrance, Siman Tov opened a siddur and recited the brachah of "al kevias mezuzah" aloud.
At the end of the visit, Rav Dahan gave Simantov a calendar with Shabbos candle-lighting times, along with a Tehillim, and blessed him that he should merit good settlement in Eretz Yisrael, strong health, nachas and simchah.
Simantov thanked Rav Dahan with great emotion for coming especially to fulfill his request and affix the mezuzah in his home, and for the assistance and accompaniment he receives from him from time to time, particularly before Yom Tov.
