Self-Proclaimed Chief Rabbi Says He Was Denied Entry to Saudi Arabia Despite Valid Visa
Rabbi Jacob Herzog reports being barred at the border, highlighting sensitivities in Saudi entry policies amid broader regional diplomatic dynamics
Rabbi Jacob Herzog, who has styled himself as the chief rabbi of Saudi Arabia’s small Jewish community, said he was denied entry to the kingdom upon arrival at the border on December twenty-second despite possessing a valid entry visa and years of prior travel and service in the country.
In a statement on social media, Herzog expressed deep regret, saying the rejection left him “distant from the Jewish community that I serve with love within the Kingdom,” and underscored the personal and communal significance of his work with Jewish residents and visitors in the Gulf state.
Herzog’s dual citizenship in the United States and Israel has in the past facilitated his travel between his home in Jerusalem and Saudi Arabia, where he has in recent years sought to support Jewish life, market kosher food products and offer religious services, even as the kingdom does not formally recognise a Jewish community.
Saudi authorities did not provide Herzog with an explanation at the airport or through the Interior Ministry for the entry refusal, and the Ministry has not publicly commented on the episode.
Herzog stated that he believed the decision did not originate from the Saudi royal court or government leadership, maintaining his confidence in the integrity and intentions of the kingdom’s institutions while also suggesting that internal opposition to reform and openness could have played a role.
His remarks came against a backdrop of complex diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, where broader normalisation efforts have been shaped by regional security concerns and conditions related to Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Arabia typically restricts entry to Israeli passport holders, and the kingdom’s public practice of non-Muslim religions is curtailed by law, meaning religious activity generally occurs in private.
Herzog’s denial of entry has drawn attention to the sensitive balance Saudi authorities navigate between projecting an image of cautious openness and enforcing longstanding regulatory and cultural norms.
The incident follows earlier episodes illustrating these complexities, including a 2024 visit by a U.S. religious freedom delegation that was cut short after a rabbi was asked to remove his religious head covering in public.
Herzog’s situation underscores the continuing challenges faced by religious figures engaging with Saudi society amid evolving diplomatic and cultural landscapes in the Middle East.
In a statement on social media, Herzog expressed deep regret, saying the rejection left him “distant from the Jewish community that I serve with love within the Kingdom,” and underscored the personal and communal significance of his work with Jewish residents and visitors in the Gulf state.
Herzog’s dual citizenship in the United States and Israel has in the past facilitated his travel between his home in Jerusalem and Saudi Arabia, where he has in recent years sought to support Jewish life, market kosher food products and offer religious services, even as the kingdom does not formally recognise a Jewish community.
Saudi authorities did not provide Herzog with an explanation at the airport or through the Interior Ministry for the entry refusal, and the Ministry has not publicly commented on the episode.
Herzog stated that he believed the decision did not originate from the Saudi royal court or government leadership, maintaining his confidence in the integrity and intentions of the kingdom’s institutions while also suggesting that internal opposition to reform and openness could have played a role.
His remarks came against a backdrop of complex diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, where broader normalisation efforts have been shaped by regional security concerns and conditions related to Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Arabia typically restricts entry to Israeli passport holders, and the kingdom’s public practice of non-Muslim religions is curtailed by law, meaning religious activity generally occurs in private.
Herzog’s denial of entry has drawn attention to the sensitive balance Saudi authorities navigate between projecting an image of cautious openness and enforcing longstanding regulatory and cultural norms.
The incident follows earlier episodes illustrating these complexities, including a 2024 visit by a U.S. religious freedom delegation that was cut short after a rabbi was asked to remove his religious head covering in public.
Herzog’s situation underscores the continuing challenges faced by religious figures engaging with Saudi society amid evolving diplomatic and cultural landscapes in the Middle East.
