JULY 13 • 2023 | 17

One day, as our group 
walked down the streets of the 
Old City, we met tourists who 
shared they had never seen a 
group of Jews before. I am sure 
there have been other times 
where I was someone’s first 
impression of a Jewish person, 
but this experience felt different. 
Our group conveyed a 
strong sense of pride. We 
weren’t afraid to openly 
express our Jewishness in a 
region that historically hasn’t 
been accepting of us. Chief 
Rabbi Levi Duchman, our 
own Rabbi Benzion Shemtov’s 
cousin, is the first licensed 
rabbi in Dubai. He explained 
that only three years ago he 
had to keep a low profile, 
wearing traditional Emirati 
attire instead of his Chabad hat 
and tzitzit. Seeing the Jewish 
community that has since been 
built is thoroughly amazing.
Throughout the trip, I 
noticed a recurring theme 
that presented itself in many 
forms. There was a paradox 
between the past and the 
future in every aspect of the 
trip — from the city itself to 
the dynamic cultures within. 
 Dubai is both a desert and 
a sprouting center of technol-
ogy, innovation and life. The 
Emirati people (who make up 
only 11% of the population) 
stay true to their identities and 
culture; while at the same time, 
they embrace new ways of 
thinking and the advancement 
of cutting-edge technology. 
Dubai is home of many of 
the “tallest,” the “newest,” the 
“firsts,” but it is also home to a 
rich Emirati culture and histo-
ry as the foundation. With that 
strong sense of identity, the 
leaders of Dubai and the UAE 
recognize the importance of 
accepting and respecting other 
cultures and different peo-
ple. They know that the only 

17 | JULY 13 • 2023 

The group got to experience 
Emirati culture.
continued on page 18