The Iranian Jewish community in Los Angeles has emerged as a vocal defender of Israel amidst pro-Palestinian protests and counterprotests on university campuses across the country. Many Iranian Jews in the area are children of parents who fled Iran during the Islamic Revolution in 1979, a time marked by social, political, and religious extremism. Raised with stories of their rich Persian culture, they often refer to themselves as Persian Jews and hold on to a longing to return to Iran, despite the regime’s suppression of the old way of life. This has led many Iranian Jews to support Israel in its fight against Hamas and Iran, the key supporter of the militant group.
The tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated in recent months, with incidents like Israel bombing an Iranian consular building in Damascus and Iran launching a drone and missile strike against Israel. Many Iranian Jews living outside the country have experienced a cultural dissonance due to their deep religious ties to Judaism. The support for Israel among Iranian Jews is rooted in centuries-old cultural and religious connections between Iran and the Jewish people, dating back to King Cyrus the Great, who is considered a savior of the Jewish people.
While many Iranian Jews support Israel, there are dissenting voices within the community, such as Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar, a prominent Jewish leader in Iran. He has criticized the Israeli government and condemned Zionism as a nationalistic political ideology. Despite differing opinions within the community, many Iranian Jews outside the Middle East continue to hope for a resolution to the tensions between Iran and Israel that does not involve war. The dream of the two nations being friendly together again is shared by many who believe in a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The Iranian Jewish community in Los Angeles has played a role in international outcry against the regime in Iran, such as after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Amini, who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police, was accused of violating the country’s strict dress code, sparking protests and outcry in Tehrangeles. The demonstrations, known as the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, were eventually suppressed by the regime, but they ignited hope for many Persian Jews living outside Iran that the country could one day return to the open society that once existed. The common fight against extremism has united Iranians and Israelis, with the Islamic Republic seen as a common enemy by many in the Iranian Jewish community.
