What about the Jews of Iran?

Jerusalem Post ^ | Apr. 27, 2005 | SHELOMO ALFASSA

[IAF ThunderPilot]

World media reports suggest that Israel or America, or both, might be preparing a preemptive strike against Iran to stop it from developing weapons of mass destruction. If that happens, what will be the fate of Iran's 30,000 Jews?

Iran's malevolent intentions toward Israel are not in dispute. But an Israeli attack on Iran could set the Muslim world afire, and Jews living in Muslim countries could become the targets of angry Muslim mobs.

Jews in Turkey, for instance, are in a generally good situation. Their government is not openly hostile toward them and there is no state-sponsored call to destroy Israel. As in Morocco, Turkish Jews do not face widespread hatred even though there are groups in both countries which hate Jews.

There are also small numbers of Jews in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. The small group of Jews in Yemen are largely isolated from the outside world. The same holds true in Iran.

Jews have lived in Iran for thousands of years. Those who remain today experience the distrust of Islamic authorities who often consider them potential "Zionist" or American spies – a crime punishable by death.

The Jewish population of Iran in the late 20th century was 80,000, of whom 50,000 emigrated after the 1979 revolution, many leaving their possessions behind. The remaining 30,000 Jews of Iran reportedly live comfortable lives. Jews are allowed to leave – officially – but it is a difficult process. Jews who apply for a passport to travel abroad must do so at a special bureau; and they are immediately put under surveillance.

They are generally allowed to leave only as individuals and not as a family, to prevent emigration. In 1998, Jewish businessman Ruhollah Kakhodah-Zadeh was hanged without a trial, apparently for assisting Jews in emigrating.

Consequently, Jews who end up in Israel or other Western countries flee Iran illegally. And Jews who remain are not actively attempting to leave. Like the Jewish remnant communities in other Muslim countries, Iranian Jewry are seemingly comfortable with their lot.

Iranian Jews live in a complex, bizarre environment as dhimmis, subjugated to non-Muslims. The community is comprised of both secular and observant Jews who would profess not to recognize Israel. The tiny Neturei Karta anti-Zionist sect has often visited. Neturei Karta delegations are greeted by Chief Rabbi Haham Yousef Hamedani and Teheran Jewish communal leaders. While in the country recently, the Neturei Karta figures spoke at various synagogues, conducted meetings with the community and chief rabbi, and were honored guests at a gala dinner. They even made a pilgrimage to the home of the late Ayatollah Khomeini.

Rabbi Hamedani has spoken of the "ever-increasing glory of the Iranian people" and talked about the "shah's tyrannical regime"; he said the regime viewed "its survival as based on its connections with international Zionism and imperialism; but that when Zionist organizations were trying to dictate our destiny, Iranian Jewry never submitted to these conspiracies."

President Mohammad Khatami has been photographed visiting with the chief rabbi and embracing him. It makes one wonder: Do the Jews in Iran speak in mixed messages because – as in many other Muslim countries – they are in fear, whether they admit it or not?

Meanwhile, Khatami is involved in a power struggle with "hard-line" clerics led by Iran's supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Some might suggest that Khatami, in this context, is a friend of the Jewish community. But as I see it, it's hard to be a friend to a people when you want to destroy their homeland.

Which brings me back to the fate of those 30,000 Jewish souls "the day after" a preemptive strike against Iran.

Iranian officials say they distinguish between Jews and "Zionists," and that their hatred for Western Jews does not extend to "their" Jews.

Now a new opportunity may have presented itself. Ironically, because of seating arrangements in alphabetical order, President Khatami and President Moshe Katsav of Israel found themselves seated next to each other at the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Katsav spoke briefly with the Iranian president in Farsi, even though Khatami later denied it.

Katsav, himself a Jew from Iran, should contact his community to better assess their situation. A portentous scene is developing; international tensions are on the rise. Khatami will allow Jews to emigrate, albeit with difficulty.

President Katsav: Call Teheran and try to find out whether Iran's remaining Jews want to come home. There may not be another chance.

The writer is the executive director of the International Society for Sephardic Progress.

[nuconvert]

"shah's tyrannical regime" ....."The Jewish population of Iran in the late 20th century was 80,000, of whom 50,000 emigrated after the 1979 revolution"

Hmmm.....and how do the Neturei Karta & Rabbi Hamedani explain that? Or does everyone just accept they're playing roles and don't believe their own propaganda?

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

But an Israeli attack on Iran could set the Muslim world afire, and Jews living in Muslim countries could become the targets of angry Muslim mobs.

Didn't we also hear this warning prior to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq?