Iranian Jewish leaders warn against Rosh Hashanah gatherings amid societal tensions
The Iranian Jewish community in the capital Tehran has warned its members against gatherings and public celebrations of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, reportedly to quell the growing tensions in the Islamic nation on the one-year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini.
Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, was reportedly killed by the ayatollah regime’s “morality police" in 2022 after being arrested for not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, per the Islamic Republic’s strict regulations. Reports say the young woman fell into a coma after being beaten by Iranian officials and died of brain trauma.
Iran's Jewish community leaders urged their members to keep a low profile amid the growing risk of anti-Jewish violence.
"Worshipers are strongly requested to refrain from stopping and gathering in the streets during Rosh Hashanah and after performing religious duties in synagogues for any reason," stated the Jewish community leaders in a post on Telegram.
The Jewish community leaders stressed that they have been coordinating the arrangement with the Iranian police force.
“We would like to inform you that by the grace of the Almighty, and in coordination with the respected police force of Greater Tehran, the necessary arrangements have been made for the safety and comfort of our dear fellow believers to hold the glorious and fateful day of Rosh Hashanah,” the official statement read.
Jews have lived in ancient Persia for over 2,700 years, making it one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities. While the ayatollah regime has made a distinction between the Jewish people and the Jewish nation of Israel, many Iranian Jews fear persecution and try to distance themselves from the Jewish state and world Jewry altogether.
The Jewish leaders in Tehran, therefore, emphasized the community's loyalty to the Iranian state.
“During its several thousand years of stay in the pure soil of Iran, the Jewish community of Iran has always defended the national interests and left a brilliant track record in this regard, which has always caused the envy and displeasure of the enemies
In December 2022, Iranian authorities arrested at least five Iranian Jews during the massive crackdown on the nationwide protests against the regime’s oppressive rule.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
