Iran and Israel are staunch enemies. Iran is an Islamic country and Israel is called the country of Jews. Both have been fighting a war intermittently for a long time. Even though today their relationship is stained with blood, there was a time when the number of Jews in Iran was in lakhs. Here the Jews got respect and freedom, but the situation changed with the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran and on April 1, 1979, Iran was officially declared an Islamic Republic. Gradually it became a staunchly Islamic country and fear for safety began to arise among the Jews.
The number of Jews started decreasing in Iran
After the formation of Israel in 1948, Iran used to be its friend, but after the Islamic Revolution, friends soon became enemies. Fear began to dominate the Jews and gradually they left Iran and settled in Israel. Different reasons were given for going to Israel. Some believed that their future in Iran was not secure. At the same time, some said that they want to choose a country which has Jewish majority. This is the reason why the Jews living in Iran for hundreds of years started leaving it.
Gradually, a large number of Jews started reaching Israel. There were also hundreds of Jews who moved to America and Europe.
How many Jews are there in Iran, why are they not leaving the country?
At present there are about 10 thousand Jews left in Iran. It is considered the second largest Jewish community group in the Middle East after Israel. Now the question is, why are the Jews living in Iran not leaving the country amidst the tension and hatred that has arisen between the two countries for years?
David Nisan, a former Israeli intelligence officer born and raised in Tehran, says that despite anti-Semitism and declining respect in the country, Iran’s Jewish community remains a strong link of cultural pride and national identity. Although they are viewed with suspicion, they are still proud of their heritage.
Iran was once a stronghold of Jews
In the JNS report, he says, the identity of Iranian Jews is linked to Iran, not to any other country. Iran was once a stronghold of Jews in the entire Middle East. There are about 30 Jewish places of worship in Iran. There are Jewish schools here. Jews do not face any kind of oppression. They are allowed to maintain their Jewish lifestyle. In Iran they have been recognized as an official religious minority. Their rights are protected by law and the constitution, and they also have a representative in Parliament.
According to Nisan, many members of the community have no intention of leaving Iran. Those who want to leave Iran can leave, he says, but despite previous efforts to encourage Jews to immigrate to Israel, few took up the offer. Most Jews living in Iran do not see Israel as a better option than leaving everything behind and want to stay, mainly for cultural and economic reasons. However, they are also worried about their safety.
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