Haroun Yashayai
Three individuals representing Iranian Jewish
Youths took part in a conference in Sweden, August 19-28, the report of which is
published in this edition of “Ofegh-Bina.”
Since this presence is in line with the activities of Tehran Jewish Committee for establishing a cultural contact with non-political sections of Jewish communities in different parts of the world, it is very important.
Establishing this communication with the World Jewish Community is essential in different aspects. Below you will find two important aspects of this communication:
First of all, because the people of the world, especially the Jews get to know that Jewish Iranians are not solitary people living in a far island, but they appreciate their valuable heritage of being an Iranian Jew. They guard their history and common reflection of Iranian honorable culture as well as principles of prophetic Judaism with their full strength and regard themselves both as Iranian and at the same time a part of the world Jewish community.
Secondly, the Jews’ lives and other religious minorities’ are not dark, as some overseas-dwellers and mouthpieces claim it. The reality is that all Jewish-dwelling cities of Iran have synagogues and there are no limitations for Jews to do their religious duties. In addition, there are various organizations, Jews’ Associations, schools, kindergartens, gymnasiums for youths, Dr. Sapid Grand Hospital, the Jews’ elders’ house, religious slaughterhouses, and Kosher meat products, offices for registration of religious marriages, other issues indicating identities and requirements of Jews’ Community in Iran. It is interesting to mention that you cannot find some of these facilities in some European countries.
In the recent years, the presence of the members of Iranian Jews’ Community in the world conferences have become of essence due to some special reasons, the most important of which is frustrating the insistence of a few evil-thinkers for merging all Jewish communities and individuals, and laying stress on an unquestionable support from Zionists’ organizations and Jews’ lobby in USA or Europe. In the meantime, some of these evil-thinkers have made this vision and idea, as the basis for anti-Zionist violent propaganda and they constantly speak about the accusations, which disturb everybody, and identify these accusations as revealed revelations. In practice, they speak of whatever they like from the most radical Zionists’ bands…!
However, the attitudes of respectable and clever Jews throughout the world against the adventurous movements of military bands (like Sharon and Mufaz) and the current violent actions in the region as well as the hatred from the immoral massacre of innocent people from both sides are increasingly becoming more significant. If the endless incitement and machination of Imperialists and destructive prejudices of some groups from both sides permit, the peaceful and brotherly life among Jews, Moslems and Christians would be possible and significant in the history.
There have been many signs for proving the possibility of a peaceful and brotherly life among the world Jews’ Community and Israeli people. Recently (final days of September 2003) Shelomou Ben Aami, the Israeli former minister of foreign affairs in an interview with “Al-Mostaghbal” and “Ha-Aretz”, newspapers, referring to an interesting issue, says: “ there is no logic to say one should put off the war for the national independence, that has started with the incentive of Islamic national wills against the security, (a security that Palestinians are not able to provide it unless they gain it through a civil war)” and in another place (in an example which resembles Sharon as a magician who burns a lion with its mane and mace) says, “ Let these kids (Sharon and other Israel’s military politicians) play delusions before our eyes on the stage, so that it might reveal that all Right wing’s methods have reached their end, as it is seen in any real democracy.”
And this is while at the end of this month, 27 Israeli pilots, abstained from flying over the occupied regions, because they believed the acts of the Israel’s Air Force in bombarding the Palestinians’ camps, are immoral, and following their disobedience, they were threatened to be expelled from the army. Hundreds of articles and the like reactions were distributed among the Jews of the world and those dwelling in Israel. Of course, in reaction to all these events, the evil-thinkers state a proverb that they are all the same! However, Iran’s magnanimous people never listen to these words.
On the other hand, fortunately there is a realistic, creative, and fair thought on course among our fellow-Iranians, which cancels this belief of the evil-thinkers. For example, following the invitation made by the ministry of foreign affairs, two Jewish clergymen from USA (Rabbi Ben Purat and the Jewish scholar “ Marshal Breger”) traveled to Iran on middle days of June, and met with honorable clergymen of Shi’a in Qum. They planned for a conference on Comparative Laws’ of Judaism and Islam’s Jurisprudence. They also visited Islamic Communications and Culture’s Organization. They also took part in an introduction and discussion meeting with representatives from Iranian Jews’ Community. We have had such occasions since past and, God willing, we will have more and more.
In the introduction session, in which the representatives of the Iranian Jews’ Community as well as the said Jewish clergymen took part, there was a subject, which was spread by some foreign news groups especially from U.S. In one of the discussion sessions, the authorities of Iranian Jews’ Community asked the Jewish clergymen to tell the American Jews about whatever they have seen relating to Iranian Jews’ Community in Iran. Rabbi Ben Purat honestly replied, “ Our problem is that if we report whatever we have seen in Iran regarding the situation of Jewish Community, few people in USA may believe us. We could not even believe the existence of Jewish Community’s organizations such as schools, synagogues, Kashrus, and various gatherings!” At the same meeting, Rabbi Ben Purat recognized Iran’s government’s authorities as well as authorities of Jewish Committee answerable, since they have not been able to reflect the realities of Iranian Jews’ life to the world. Using this deficiency, the propaganda centers in USA could succeed in showing the situation of lives of the religious minorities- especially Iranian Jews- dark and intolerable in Iran. In the same meeting, the representatives of the Jewish community promised to compensate the past shortages.
I conclude this part with reminding the authorities of the Iranian Jewish Community with their responsibility against reflecting the realities of Iranian Jews’ lives for addressees inside and outside of the country. I should explain that the Iranian Jewish Community could have healthy and brotherly relations with their fellow compatriots and authorities of the Islamic republic of Iran, and we continue our negotiations for removing some current discriminations and problems through legal channels.
Our young people in Stockholm have undertaken a part of this duty and have done their best. We do appreciate them…
