A group of Iranian Jews made the difficult trip to the city of Yazd, located some 600km from Tehran and today, a recognized World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They make the trip annually, on the Yahrzeit of the Ohr Shraga ZT”L, visiting the 1000-year-old shul for the event.
The Ohr Shraga, who lived in Yadz some 200 years ago, was a noted Torah scholar and Kabbalist who occupies a unique place in Persian Jewish tradition.
One woman who comes explains it is difficult and expensive, as there are not enough bus and train tickets to be had. In addition, no one sponsors the cost and each person who participates has to cover costs out of pocket.
The Jewish population of Iran today has dwindled from 120,000 to 20,000 today, and some continue this annual event in the ancient shul, arriving from all over the country.
It is explained the Yazdim Shul in the Bucharim area of Yerushalayim has its roots from here too. This is the shul HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L used for many years, to deliver his motzei Shabbos drasha which was carried on radio in Israel as well a broadcast around the world.
Head of the kehilla, Humyoun Sami, tells them it is all from gifts received from Hassan Ruchani, the Iranian President, who he feels treats them well.
Outgoing Beit Shemesh Mayor Rabbi Moshe Abutbul seen speaking at a yahrzeit event for Rabbi Mekubal Ohr Shraga ZT”L.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
Dear Yeshiva World News,
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful article and videos from Iranian Jews. Thank You
I hope and pray that someday all Jews could visit holy Jewish sites like Daniel prophet and Queen Esther and Jewish sites like shown in the article and more than 100 holy Jewish places in
different cities of Iran full of Jewish history and Jewish spirituality. One of the Iranian cities named Isfahan now, but it used to be called “city of Jews”. The soil of the city of Isfahan and the taste of the water used to be similar to holy city of Jerusalem that was the reason which attracted the Jewish communities who came to old Persia from holy Land in old days. Some Jewish communities moved to Holy Land and some to USA in year 1979, but still large Jewish communities live in Iran.
They are very pious and devout Jews.
Iranian Jews attend their synagogues and pray Tehillim, Siddur, and study Holy Torah on daily basis.
Thanks and appreciations dear Yeshiva news for this excellent article.