RFE/RL's Radio Farda spoke to members of Israel's Iranian Jewish community about their split identities and their struggles to build a new life. Originally published at - www.rferl.org/a/im-without-a-...
Anyone who fell apart from his origin, will one day inquire about his origin and identity. Our hearts, souls and roots are in Iran, no matter which part of the world are we live in. Long live Iran and Iranians💖
like her story, when backstabbing his own homeland Iran, now zionist Jew suffering her to be out of Israel, when her child born in Israel also ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q_55fuEhBlE.html
@@fariborza.e.7755 تو حقیقت را گفتی می گویید بیایید و تماشا کنید، اکثر ایرانیان یهودی در بورلی هیلز زندگی می کنند از زندگی در اسرائیل نیز متنفرند، اما اسرائیل بوده اند و بازدید کرده اند، همچنین به اسرائیل کمک مالی می کنند، اکثر ایرانی ها دوست دارند در لس آنجلس زندگی کنند، مانند تهران است، و برخی از آنها در ایران تجارت دارند و همچنین سالی یکبار به تهران سفر می کنند و پول خود را می گیرند زیرا ایرانی ها مالیات نمی گیرند، در حالی که در آمریکا مجبور هستند
My extended greetings to you noble Persian (Iranian) jews. You are doubled hounered. One being belonged to a great and historical nation; the second is to be a part of a Persian empire. I am honored of you that you still love Iran and coubt it as your homeland. One day comes you will back home here in Iran and we will freely enjoy living together. Love and kisses from Iran. ❤
I really hope other Iranian muslims think like you (judging by your name), but throughout much of Iranian history after Iran was conquered by Muslims and the majority Zoroastrian Persians were forcefully converted to Islam, the minority Jewish population was treated very very badly. They were not seen as Iranian which was sad since they were there before the Muslims were and they were one of the oldest communities in Iran. Just read the entire “History of the Jews in Iran” Wikipedia article, specifically the part on the Pahlavi Dynasty and you will be disgusted. Or how during the 1940s, Germany and Iran worked together threatening the existence of this entire community. Or the Shiraz blood libel. Or how some Muslims worldwide think the dajjal will be from Isfahan. I’m glad its not like that anymore,
@@ciaronsmith4995 Zionism means that Jewish people would have their own country in their native land. This is like saying “ I don’t hate Iranians,only the existence of Iran”
@@ciaronsmith4995 Then were are the Ashkenazi Jews from? It is factual history...The Ashkenazim are Jews from Judea expelled to Europe...But that doesn’t matter,as 60% of Israel’s Jews are Mizrahim and now 73 years after the creation of Israel most of the population is inter-mixed.
For iranian the only place they can live is iran. I have seen the whole world, no where on this planet are like iran. No one is like iranian. Living and dying in iran is our first and last choice. I am not jew. I have been overseas and I have seen clear racism against iranian. Iran must be saved only for iranian to live. Because we are not welcomed elsewhere. And all our natural resources, villages, cities should be protected. Iranian jews must return home. Because they are part of our history and cultural heritage
Of course not, iranian jewish didn't even want to live Iran when israel first was created, they had to buy them with houses and payments. However, now many jewish iranians will willingly move to israel because Iran is difficult for everyone right now.
Ronald Reagan worked with many Iranian Jews like Albert Hakim, Manucher Ghorbanifar, Cyrus Hashemi, and etc. Trump had an Iranian Jewish realtor (Haghani) even though he was against Iran’s government, and the president and minister of defense were Iranian in Israel. One of Jimmy Carters closest friends was David Rabhan, an Iranian Jew. Even during the 50s, American politicians worked with Iranian Jews like Assadollah Rashidian and Elghanian for the development of Iran’s infrastructure and industry. So some Iranian muslims might not be liked or respected, but Iranian Jews are definitely respected and liked. Iranian Jews have only faced hardship and racism in the 1400 years they spent in Iran after Iran was unfortunately conquered by muslim arabs. And i dont really believe the whole racism thing you are claiming, as I know Iranians from all religious/ethnic backgrounds not just Jews but also Muslims, Baha’i , Turk, Armenian, Kurd, and etc and they have never complained about racism. Iranians for the most part are actually respected/liked in the west, especially by those who are familiar with Persian/Iranian history and can different Iranians from arabs and their culture.
What nonsense! Iranians themselves are one of the most racist people in the world. Ask an Afghan person n he will tell you. Ppl should be able to live wherever they want. If an Iranian Jew wants to live in Israel, they should be free to do so. You talk as if Iran is a paradise and everywhere else is doomed. Typical racist iranian mentality. Before you say anything, I am persian...lived in Iran and love it to bits but it is far from perfect specially for people with liberal views.
@@rumi8724 you’re not understanding his points here. Racism is everywhere and yeah racism against afghans exist too, like it’s exist between the afghans themselves! The thing is that no matter who you are and where u come from. At the end of the day you belong to your motherland! And Palestine is not the motherland of Jews!
@@alisoleimani6891 building new churches or synagogues is forbidden and a crime. converting from Islam to any other religion is a crime and punished by death. those who aren’t Muslim and actually not Shia have no chance of getting high profile jobs especially in the government. They are being monitored by the government at all times to make sure they don’t have the chance of talking about their faith. They will be jailed if found to be inviting someone to their faith. They cannot act within their beliefs in their society and they have to obey sharia law even if they don’t believe in it. and more on… There that's what freedom means to people like you. A Soleimani lover like you knows exactly what you turned that country into, you’re not fooling anyone.
@@maygolmafie5523 im a soleimani lover and im proud of it , as every iranian should be because what he did was excalty for iran and iranian people something you or those who consider themself as nationalist never do , he died for iran and his beliefs something u can never do and all the hope i have is that another person come and save u and u are foolish enough to think west or east is the answer ... if u read enough history book u know never neeeeeeever foreigners did anything good for iran ,specially uk or usa ... beside all of these iran had enough from u and your kind let us have our chance here and make iran great even with our blood , something u or your father or your brother never do for anyone even their own family , i swear to god i will die for my country and my beliefs after shah ismail those westerns took everything from us and you and your kind just watched and did nothing shame on u , a true persian always will be the ones who live in iran and die for it holy soil not yourkind , if u dont help iran atleast dont stab us in back
@@alisoleimani6891 my uncle died in the war , don't you dare talk about my family , all you guys ever do is talk and brag and never lift finger , not every Iranian is Persian btw. U must use the terms Iranian if you want to address the whole country. And I wasn't talking about west or east or bluh bluh obviously every country persuades their own benefits. I'm talking about the mess you've turned the country into .
@@maygolmafie5523 and im talking about fixing the mess not change the whole thing , yes we have huge problems here but we can fix it , not destroy the country because that is excalty what the west and east want's ... we fought and died in battle for iran not anything else and we will make iran great again because we can do it , it's doesnt matter what religion you come from all im asking to support iran no matter the odds because in pass 500 years of iran the main thing about iran loss is treasonous people who only talk shit about their home land no matter the odds , iranians can do it because they are smart and we have roots in this lan back to 7000 years ago we have the culture and history and everyone knows it ... if u dont support islamic republic of iran its ok i understand u because i dont like it that much either but my point in we can fix it later but now we must unit as one , and soleimani did everything he could for iran thats why you must respect him because he loved iran more than you and i
You all are beautiful people of motherland, Iran. We all are in exile, Jews, Christians, and Muslim born Iranians. One day we will get together in Iran soon. It feels horrible to experience racism as a child just because she comes from Jewish Iranian ancestry.
As an Iranian ,who travel ,and lived around the world only time to learn about the racism was in the EU, and the US, you never understand racism in Iranian culture,
Is possible some people who committed a crime and skip also backstab their motherland when millions of Iranian travel also live in a foreign nation and enjoy a vacation in Iran also, more interesting all friends in the US all have business in Iran as they do not pay tax and take their money spend in United state as Jew also
To my brothers/sisters, my country men/women in Israeli, in our eyes and heart you will always be Iranian. Hope you get a chance to come and visit. We miss you all!
@@Krana-rt2yy I'm Jewish, not a Zionist. I was born here. I dont hate, i criticise, where are you from? Russia or North Korea? Seems like... Jerusalem is my city my heart. Go back to your country.
Very true. The Asgaroladi family, they single handedly saved Iran’s entire economy during the sanctions. Iranian Jews have always helped and strengthened Iran, a huge chunk of Cyrus’s army were Jews who were fighting for Persia
it's not true. most of Iranian jews, like me, live in Israel. and for me- I have no other home. and any Israeli Iranian I met doesn't really see himself as Iranian. we have all of the best oppurtunities in Israel, where our real ancient homland is. where life expendency is high, where we can get political power, cultural attention (the banai family- read abou them) and so on. we are not a part of Iran any more. full stop.
@@TheRahimpur quite odd, I myself am not muslim, born Baha’i but I rather live nowhere than iran. If you take away your religion, you’d still be iranian.
@@eliza1826 no. You don't know me, or my life story. I'm not an Iranian. I am an Israeli Jew. Being Jewish is not my religion, because for Jews (most of us, anyway) being Jewish is being a part of one of the oldest nations on earth. Being Jewish is my heritage. Not being Iranian. Or Iraqi (I'm half Iraqi Jew as well). An Eli, remember one very important thing- you can't come over to people and tell them what their identity is or isn't. You do not live in their minds, you can speak only out of your own mind, not out of mine.
Iranian Jews are now living in Iran comfortably, working, going to university, I am Iranian, every Jew I saw never left Iran, Iran has no problem with Jews, it has a problem with the Israeli government
Unfortunately most of us Iranian Jews had to leave Iran. There is still discrimination. We can’t be judges, we can never be president or hold political office. Per Iranian law, if a Muslim commits a crime against a Jew, it goes virtually unpunished. If a Jew commits a crime against a Muslim, that Muslim family can recommend a death penalty. I love Iran and I love our people. But this current regime has treated us horribly. They confiscated by grandparents land and we still can’t get it back.
@@omiedmizrahi4372 That is not true, Iranian Jews in Beverly Hills, Los Angels in the United States still have their home and their shop in Tehran, Iran also travel to Israel, when their passport never have stamped as Israeli give them an only piece of paper, also live in the US and enjoy 3 passports, but each year travel to Tehran and take their money from their business and move to the US, when there is no tax in iran but is in the US,
You must be Israeli, as Cyrus never had a Jewish son, just Cyrus the great as Zoroastrian king and believer fight against Slavery, with Babylon Empire and free slave among them were a Jews, who some of them came stay in Persia or today Iran as Cyrus the Great wrote first human right law,
@@ms9771 bro relax lol he's not talking in a literal sense, but figuratively speaking, and he's right. Cyrus the great freed them and they are children of that time. They have been in Iran sense those ancient times. They are more Persian than a lot of Iranians are. Persian Jews are some of the oldest Jews in the world
@@ms9771 He is talking figuratively. We, Iranian of all ethnic, religious, social,...groups are daughters and sons of Cyrus the Great. He gave us our identity as Iranian.
اشکم دراومد 😢 اصلا فکر نمیکردم ایرانیا تو اسراییل مورد نژاد‌پرستی قرار بگیرن. کاش یه روز همه ایرانیا از همه جای دنیا بتونن برگردن تو کشور خودشون زندگی کنن❤❤
Yes, people don’t understand this. Iran had one of the largest Jewish populations in the world and they coexisted relatively peacefully compared to other parts of the world where Jewish people lived. Even after the Islamic revolution, the Jewish people today in Iran are still very successful so they are obviously not being mistreated like how other Jewish people were in Arab countries.
Iran literally had a Jewish prime minister, Reza Hekmat. Most SAVAK agents and prominent Pahlavi people were Bahá’í of Jewish origin like Pardis Sabeti, Abbas Hoveyda, Hooshang Seyhoun, Habib Sabet, and etc. Jews are not as oppressed as they are in other countries hence why many of them are able to live happy, successful lives in Iran versus most other countries.
@@adamavikatt2174 Iran have a representative of all religion in Iran congress, watch the Jewish minister, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uKXnKZNQ-FI.html
You do not know Iranian great culture of freedom unfortunatelyy, Mr Homayoun Semieh is minster Iranian Jew , you can see his speech in this american public broadcasting report , of course, PBS are famous in US also EU, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HHV1QUs-BA4.html
My father was a messianic Jew. I love my friends from Iran. Peace Lord Peace I speak with faith for prayers for both countries to live in peace. The Lord created us all in His Image.
I felt so sad watching this video clip. you are all precious and wonderful people and I am proud to call all of you my beautiful country men and women. hopefully we will all return to Iran one and live in peace and harmony together
Iranian are the nicest people on this planet earth 🌏. I met a bunch of them in Paris during the university years in France. Even though I came back to Quebec, l kept contact with some who moved to Iran during and after the 1979 revolution. Merci!
Persian Jews next to Iraqi Jews have the oldest continuous culture dating back to their Meshiakh & our' King Cyrus the Great freeing the captive Jewish slaves in Babylon and rebuilding their second Beit Migdash in Yerushalaym. The Jewish culture in & around Iran (mizrakhim) is far older than the modern Jewish culture found in Israel or any other Jewish culture in any part of the world today.
they can not come home Israeli destroyed their passport, watch these unhappy Iranian inside Israel ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uOS37bTjvbA.html
You're talking about something that happened more than 70 years ago, when Israel was barely a country yet. No one is living in tents anymore and all those Mizrahi and Persian Jews are integrated pretty well into Israeli society today. Even Israel's biggest selling female artist is originally from Iran... So I think they did pretty well.
@@messianic_scam Nobody arrived there and got everything ready on a gold platter! Ashkenazis were the first pioneers, they are the ones who dried up the swamps and died from Malaria and other diseases in that land! Everybody had to sacrifice in the beginning...
@@messianic_scam , LOL!!!! Ok, now I see I'm talking to another loony Islamo-fascist supporter who has no clue of the history of that land... Whatever you say!
Exactly. There is no reason for them to want to back in Iran. Israel embraces them, if they want to see true racism, they need to look at Iran's regime. I'm sorry, but they should be thankful to be in Israel.
iran is the second home for israilies and they will come back home again. the current regime can not hold the country anymore. they will fall soon. but the sad thing is we lost a lot of our valuable peaple in this 43 years. the people who left iran 43 years ago now are dead or old and their children will not see iran as homeland..... and that means iran can not get back what she lost in the past....
No nation like Iranian have such unity, just look at the Israell, their government saw Nathanyhou how fool the natioan and now an a Israel Neftali Bennett his goverment, is collapsing
you falied to mention that Iranian Jews are integrated, for the most part, and we hade a commander in chiefe fro, Iranian descent, a president from Iranian descent, lots of culturly important figuers are Iranian jews here in Israel... you showed a very one sided (and halfly true) story. and tha's just sad, and shows you are bad a reporting- and tells something about you adgenda. your's truely, an Israeli half Iranian Jew, who's proud living in this great country called Israel
why do you lie, Iranian are unhappy inside Israeli watch this report, ahow they cry to be in Iran, but Israeli destory their passport, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uOS37bTjvbA.html
As an Iranian Shia Muslim, I greet all our Jewish compatriots in Iran and outside Iran. I pray for you that all Iranian Jews come back to their homeland and have a dignified life with people who do not discriminate them because of their origins and value them as a valuable part of our beloved country. Israel is not safe for Iranian Jews! Your sons are being killed in operations and Iranian Jewish families are being destroyed as a result. Iran has the second largest Jewish community in Asia. Almost all Jews in Iran live in prosperity and peace with their Muslim compatriots. Our arms are open to welcome you again as in the past.
I am waiting for the day that all middle east will create a union of all its people, independent of backgrounds. Its diversity and intelligent population will work for benefit of all since at the end we are all borthers with its great rich history. No more wars, Good thoughts, good words , good deed.
Iranian for 7 thousand years of history, enjoy life and repect the humanity also part of their culture, are the same nation, Cyrus theGreatt wrote the first human rights law, called Cyrus Cylinder kept in UN, when in United State there is no leader as woman, Persian had king , queen ancient time also their greatest Amiral Athosa fight the Greek, as Persian believe in Freedom for all, the soldier had wages , when Greek and Roman ,Egyptian use slave for war,Persian had an equal right for man and woman, freedom of religion, language, job and travel, when TRUMP ignorant stop seven country travel to US,
The jews have been living in Iran about over 700 years BC, so if they are not Iranian I don’t know who it is? It’s sad that no matter of religion or ethnicity we Iranian people had to leave our country. I hope we all can return ❤
The sad truth is that Iran under the Ayatollas has very few friends outside its own sphere of influence. Not having a homeland is no worse fate than those living under the current tyrannical regime.
Sad to hear this, but Israel must have a very healthy gene pool with all these different people. How are Persian women so good looking and the men not so much :) I tried to change country once, it is 'easier' if you have no choice, but patterns are set early. What I found interesting it was the geograpphy that I missed, the aesthetics of the outside environment that were embedded so fundamentally, not culture, language, people... .. It was the land and the sea, the light, of home.
That is not true, as they pass New Jewish state Law, only Jew are legalCitizens state Israel, Muslim, Christian , Druz are ilegal citizen-state Israel, even born, live there for thousands years, also Israeli hate blackAfrican jew, when Nethanyahou ask Iranian Jew move to Israel, and they all rejected, as saw what happened to those Iranian moved there also are very unhapp , when killing Palestinian and do not care for human right law,
Iran is Jewish mother land for thousands years, way before musliams come to Iran & by forse made Iranian convert to muslim. So Iran is Jewish mother land 1st. Iranian before revolution had no racism or at least where l was loving.❤❤❤
Iran and the hearts of the Iranian are big enough to have us all in the homeland one day. The only problem is the Iranian regime that sooner or later will be overthrown by the Iranian people. I’m Shia Iranian and on self exile in Europe since 2001, but never lost the hope and never felt stateless despite not having Iranian passport.
This comment is antisemitic and ignorant... and fyi they weren’t kicked out of Iran, they voluntarily left throughout the 20th century to Israel, Europe, and USA...
@@basirj8578 another sore loser in middle east who blames Israel for their own cultural and political shortcoming as blacks blame slavery for their appalling conditions
No thanks, nothing makes zionistJews happy, as TRUMAN president of United State, recognize palestine as state israel, told him zionist Jew are not happy with him even he give them palestine, TRUMAN answerd, Jesus Christ could not make them happy when he was on Earth how any one ales can
Iranian are the greatest government, as people are very happy, no war and no killing as Israeli for 76 years have beside fight the Palestinian, no travel toEgypt, Jordan orLebanon,
@@eliza1826 If Iranian people enjoy life and support their government for sure are the greatest one, just look at the poor Naftali, what hapend to him or Netanayhou and Israeli are lost
@@ms9771 iranian people do not enjoy the government . Do you realize how many Iranian political protesters died and continue dying or how many protest iran had over the years? It’s a dictatorship totalitarian government, the peoples vote don’t count. But this is great for Saudi, israel, Russia, USA, China, irans puppet masters. Sharia law is what THEY want . People aren’t dumb. You’re not going to tell me that gulf Arab countries are more secular than Iranians? It makes zero sense because Iranians have no say or control.
That woman said there is israeli racism against jews that came from arab countries, but thats not exactly true. If you ask me( and you might since im israeli) there isnt such a racism concept as there is in america. We insult each other on this background equally lol
She didn't say Arab states. She said Islamic ones. Are you a mizerahi? do you look like an Iranian jew? You cannot say it doesn't exist unless you look like her. It is retarded how people of the same race discriminate one and other based on the color of their skin.
Thank you, at least someone gets it. There is no racism in Israel against skin color. Soviet and Russian Jews were recently denied immigration to Israel and they were even called fake and insulted. It’s more origin that gets made fun of than skin color. It is not even possible for there to be any large scale racism against skin color, like majority of Jews honestly look very similar to each other and have the same Levantine, Middle Eastern look. If you go to Israel, you honestly cannot tell the difference between the Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, and Sephardic Jews there. You cannot even tell the difference between a Jew and an Arab there most of the time. I do not know where this racism claim is coming from, it is purely a fabrication.
@@adamavikatt2174 למה לשקר- ברור שאתה רואה את ההבדל בין מזרחים לאשכנזים! למה לשקר?! סבבה- לא גזענים פה כמו באירופה, אבל יש דעות קדומות, יש חסמים להתקדמות של מזרחים בחברה הישראלית (אפילו שהרבה אנשי תרבות בישראל הם מזרחים בכלל, וממוצא איראני בפרט כמו משפחת בנאי). בסדר- האירופאים האלה מגזימים ויש להם אג'נדה אנטישמית- אבל אנחנו לא צריכים לשקר להם ולעצמנו רק כדי לנצח ויכוח.
@@LittleHomieLightningtech it’s a Jewish state. The same way Saudi Arabia is a Muslim state The only difference israel allows churches and mosques while Saudi Arabia doesn’t So before you criticize israel go and look At Saudi Arabia
Dont care about you buddy ! the wind of freedome and creation and inspiration is not blowing from your side anymore. You're of no use for me You're in the grey zone... as it such you're a pain to take care of not that ''we'' ever have time for such nobile goals . Just per saying
Zionist Jew forgot what means freedom and freedom for all, for the same reason Assassinated their own hero Yitzhak Rabian who fight all his life for same zionist Jews, when he sign the peace treaty of Oslo Accord with Arafat leader of Palestinian when he was poisoned by Israeli also
Much love to you my Iranian compatriots in Israel. You are Iranian and always will remain Iranian. One day we all will go home to a free democratic and secular Iran.
