Iranian Jews Navigate Loyalty and Danger Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Approximately 10,000 Jews remaining in Iran face intense pressure to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the Iranian regime while severing ties with relatives in Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. According to Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), the war has heightened risks for the Jewish community, who now must avoid any online activity that could arouse suspicion. Sabti described how synagogues have become venues for regime praise ceremonies and prayers for the success of Iranian missiles, reflecting the community's need to publicly affirm allegiance to avoid persecution.
Sabti explained that during previous conflicts involving Hamas or Hezbollah, Jews in Iran occasionally faced harassment, but the direct confrontation with Israel has intensified the pressure significantly. The community has adapted by limiting contact with family in Israel, reducing social media interactions, and signaling a preference to remain disconnected as a security measure. Despite official Iranian claims of separating Judaism from Zionism and allowing Jewish parliamentary representation, any link to Israel risks accusations of espionage and harsh investigations by Iranian intelligence, as seen in the 1999 arrest of 13 Jews on spying charges.
Most Iranian Jews live in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, working in commerce, medicine, engineering, and other professions. They strive to maintain a low profile and peaceful relations with their Muslim neighbors. Many find it difficult to leave Iran due to age, property, and businesses, as well as deep cultural roots dating back 2,500 years. Sabti noted that the community's numbers have drastically declined from an estimated 120,000 before the Islamic Revolution, with many emigrating during the 1980s amid increasing repression.
The ongoing isolation from Jewish communities in Israel and the U.S. has allowed groups like Neturei Karta to gain influence in some synagogues and educational institutions, serving as a propaganda tool for the regime to showcase Jewish opposition to Israel. Thus, Iran's ancient Jewish community remains caught between their historic heritage and a hostile government that uses them as a political pawn. They continue to pray and preserve their community life, fully aware that any sign of identification with Israel during wartime could endanger their freedom and lives.
