The Jewry In Iran

Paradise is a concept used to explain a state of peace and joy, while misery describes a position where one is unhappy and distressed. Paradise and misery are complete opposite conditions, yet the Jewish population of Iran encountered both in the past. The Jewry in Iran increased many times through history. Jews were drawn to Iran when it was a prosperous country with religious equality. In spite of the Iranian Jews being foreigners to this unfamiliar country, they established successful lives for themselves. They built a Jewish education for their children all while being persecuted. The Jewish population of Iran decreased at times. Many Jewish families left Iran when their lives were endangered and when they were forbidden to observe Judaism

The Jewish communities in Iran first started struggling persecution in 226 CE. They were harassed and treated unjustly for belonging to the Jewish nation. In 642 Arab Muslims overran Persia, bringing the Persian Empire to an end. Furthermore, the new rulers of Iran introduce Islam as the new state religion; this new change destroyed the Jew’s social and political status. Toward the middle of the 1700’s Iran had a Jewish population of 100000. At the time of the nineteenth century, religious laws became forbidding; Jews were obligated to convert. Jews that rebelled and did not convert were occasionally executed. As a result of these forced conversions and cruel rules many Jews emigrated from Iran. At the end of the nineteenth century just half the Jews remained. Following the Phalevi Dynasty from 1925 to 1979, came the Islamic revolution creating, for the second time an Islamic republic. Great numbers of Jews abandoned Iran immediately after for they feared execution and expulsion as in the 1800’s. Since the revolution the Jewish community of Iran has been facing more discrimination than ever before. They are looked upon dishonestly and with hostility at all times. Present-day Iranian Jews are disrespected at their employment, education and in public, they are accused for crimes, they did not commit and some have also been murdered for religious reasons. The Jewish population of Iran today, exists of 10200 Jews. Jews of Iran have been up against anti-Semitism for 1800 years and it is unthinkable that they must still face discrimination in the modern day