Jacob Israel Herzog
Jacob Israel Herzog (يعقوب إسرائيل هرتسوغ, יעקב ישראל הרצוג; born 1976) is an American‑Israeli rabbi and businessman. Herzog is not the rabbi of Saudi Arabia; the kingdom has no state‑recognised Rabbi, and neither Saudi authorities nor the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities recognise him in any rabbinic capacity.[1][2][3][4] He was trained as a shochet, volunteer with the Chevra Kadisha Eda Maraviim, and certified mohel.
Career
[edit]After brief yeshiva studies Herzog worked in tyre recycling before founding ShneorSeed, an Israeli firm that breeds virus‑resistant tomato and pepper hybrids and exports to “more than 17 countries”.[5][6]
Controversies
[edit]The Times of Israel reported that several Gulf‑based Jews viewed Herzog’s publicity drive as excessive, with four describing him as “acting like a bull in a china shop”.[7] In August 2022, The New Arab reported online anger after he posted photos with cleric Ahmed Qassim al-Ghamdi in Riyadh and selfies near Medina’s Uhud battlefield cemetery, an area normally off‑limits to non‑Muslims.[8] Later that year, Bloomberg reported that he was refused entry to the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh despite holding an invitation badge; organisers cited a “registration glitch”.[9] In February 2022 he travelled to Iran on a U.S. passport, sharing footage from the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai;[10] Iranian Jewish Member of Parliament Homayoun Sameyah Najafabadi criticised the visit.[11] Herzog’s X account also includes speculative posts; in May 2025 he asked, “The wife of an Arab ruler is confined in the palace and uses a look‑alike. Who is she?”[12] On 26 December 2024 he travelled to Damascus and met members of Syria’s interim administration following the collapse of the Assad regime, telling The Jerusalem Post he wished to “congratulate the Syrian people on their freedom”.[13][14]
Personal life
[edit]Herzog was born in New York City and relocated to Israel during high school. He lives in Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood with his wife and eight children.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Carrie Keller‑Lynn, “In Saudi Arabia, a rabbi angles to lead a Jewish community that doesn’t exist”, *The Times of Israel*, 27 Dec 2021.
- ^ Zvika Klein, “Meet Jacob Herzog, Saudi Arabia’s self‑proclaimed chief rabbi”, *The Jerusalem Post*, 23 Jul 2022.
- ^ Stephen Kalin & Rory Jones, “A Rabbi Searches for a Congregation in Saudi Arabia, Birthplace of Islam”, *The Wall Street Journal*, 2 Nov 2021.
- ^ Sarah Moosazadeh, “US‑Israeli rabbi helps preserve religious heritage for Jewish residents of Saudi Arabia”, *The National*, 8 Sep 2023.
- ^ Keller‑Lynn, Carrie (27 December 2021). "In Saudi Arabia, a rabbi angles to lead a Jewish community that doesn't exist". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "ShneorSeed". Startup Nation Finder. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Keller‑Lynn, Carrie (27 December 2021). "In Saudi Arabia, a rabbi angles to lead a Jewish community that doesn't exist". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Moussa, Emad (8 August 2022). "An Israeli journalist in Mecca, a rabbi in Medina – Saudi's path to normalisation?". The New Arab. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Fattah, Zainab (25 October 2022). "Rabbi says he was barred entry to Saudi investment summit". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "WATCH: "Rav of Saudi Arabia" Films Himself on Streets of Iran". Yeshiva World News. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Jewish MP critical of Herzog's visit to Iran". Iran Front Page. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ @RabbiHerzog (14 May 2025). "The wife of an Arab ruler is confined in the palace and uses a lookalike. Who is she?" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 July 2025 – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
- ^ "Rabbi Jacob Herzog flies to Syria to congratulate, meet with Syrian officials". The Jerusalem Post. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "The Jerusalem Post on X: \"Rabbi Jacob Herzog flies to Syria...\"". X. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Kalin, Stephen; Jones, Rory (2 November 2021). "A Rabbi Searches for a Congregation in Saudi Arabia, Birthplace of Islam". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 July 2025.