A shul in the Iranian city of Shiraz was attacked on Sunday night.

Sources confirm to YWN that the “Hadash (Chadash) Shul” located in the Maleh neighborhood of Shiraz was found vandalized. Unfortunately, two Sifrei Torah were found torn in pieces R”L, and were destroyed in the attack. The Sidurim were found in the bathroom, many of them were placed in the toilets.

Although it is difficult getting accurate information from Iran, YWN has been informed that police are investigating the incident. (If you have any further information – please contact YWN).

Jews have been living in Iran for more than 3,000 years. Today, the vast majority of Persian Jews live in Israel and the United States, especially in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills the North Shore of Long Island and Brooklyn.

Iran’s Jewish population was reduced from 100,000–150,000 in 1948 to about 80,000 immediately before the Iranian Revolution, due mostly to immigration to Israel. While immigration to Israel had slowed in the 1970s and the Jewish population of Iran had stabilized, the majority of Iran’s remaining Jews left the country in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Shah. In the 2000s, the Jewish population of Iran was estimated by most sources to be 25,000, though estimates varied, with some as low as 17,000 by 2010 and as high as 40,000 in 1998. However, the official census in August 2012 indicated that there were only 8,756 Jews still living in Iran. Notable population centers include Tehran, Isfahan (1,200), and Shiraz. Historically, Jews maintained a presence in many more Iranian cities. Jews are protected in the Iranian constitution and allowed one seat in the Majlis.

YWN will be updating this story as more information becomes available to us .

(Charles Gross – YWN)