Pars Today- Former Israeli intelligence officer specializing in Iranian affairs acknowledged that Iran’s Jewish community enjoys cultural pride and strong national identity.
Despite claims by Western media that Jews in Iran are mistreated and persecuted – which is part and parcel of an anti-Islamic-Republic media campaign orchestrated by the West — the reality is quite the opposite. Iranian Jews are rightly proud of their heritage and the fact that they live in Iran.
The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), in an article about Jews and their relation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, has made it clear that, despite negative propaganda of the Western media, there is no tension between the Jewish community and the current Iranian ruling system.
According to Pars Today, quoting from Khabar Online, David Nissan, expert of Iran’s affairs and former Israeli intelligence officer, who was born and grew up in Tehran, added about the developments of the Jewish community in the country during the past 16 months, “It is very important to understand that the Iranian Jews’ national identity has been intermingled with Iran.”
Nissan wrote on the situation of Jewish community in Iran that, in spite of remarkable migration since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Jewish community has kept its thoroughly Jewish lifestyle and no trouble has been imposed by the system on them.
Having 30 active synagogues, Jewish schools and other sections, this community has not experienced any kind of disturbance or trouble and they are allowed to preserve their Jewish lifestyle without any interference. And, as an official religious minority in Iran, their rights are safeguarded by the law and the Constitution and they even have representatives in the Majlis (Iranian Parliament).
Iranian Jewish girls reciting the Torah in a synagogue
Jews in Iran are not intent to migrate to the Occupied Territories due to various reasons. Some of these reasons are as follows:
Long and deeply-rooted history: The Iranian Jewish community is among the oldest ones in the world whose record dates back to over 2500 years. Iranian Jews have been an important part of the society during various eras and many of them enjoy special status in Iran’s cultural and social life.
Religious freedom: Jews have been recognized as religious minority in approximately all eras and dynasties in Iran, but their religious rights have been guaranteed.
Economic and cultural prosperity: Thanks to interaction with other communities and cultures, Iranian Jews have always participated in different economic, scientific and cultural sections in the country and continue playing their significant role in the Iranian society.
Keeping cultural and religious identity: Iranian Jews continue adhering to their religious customs and traditions and in a number of cities and villages there are Jewish communities who have kept their traditions.
Social and political conditions: Some of the Iranian Jews do not like to migrate because of appropriate social and political conditions in the country.
Homayoon Sameh Yah, specializing in pharmaceuticals, head of Jewish Society and Jewish MP during the 11th and 12th rounds of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis)
Iranian Jewish ladies and girls in a protest rally against Israel
Iranian Jewish families inside a synagogue
Iranian Jews attending an anti-Zionist ceremony
Finally, Iran’s Jewish community enjoys active presence in the country with no challenge, and they are considered as part of the Iranian history and culture.
RM/UR
