When Zebulon Simentov was evacuated from Kabul, it was thought that was the very end of the Afghan Jewish community.
But it has emerged another “last Jew in Afghanistan” may have stayed behind: an 83-year-old woman.
Tova Moradi has now fled the Taliban but is said to have been in the country after Mr Simentov was rescued in a courageous humanitarian mission.
The widow of a Muslim man, she never converted or rejected her Judaism, Associated Press reported.
She said she continued to practise Judaism in private. Ms Moradi was evacuated by humanitarian charity IsraAID along with her children and some two dozen grandchildren and is currently in Albania with them.
Ms Moradi’s daughter Khorshid, who lives in Canada, said the rescue came after a relative contacted Joseph Friedberg, a Toronto Jewish businessman warning she was in danger.
IsraAID, with the help of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office, other Jewish businessmen, and Afghan diplomats organised Tova’s escape. Khorshid said: “We are so thankful that they are safe now.”
IsraAID CEO Yotam Polizer said Ms Moradi hopes to go to Canada, and she plans to visit Israel.
She said: “Yesterday, I saw my sisters, nieces and nephews after around 60 years through a video call. We spoke for hours. I was really happy. I saw their children and they met mine.”
Mr Simentov is in Istanbul deciding where he will go next.
