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Comments

RUBEN N. MELAMED, 2007-08-12 19:48:02 -- Flag for review

New York, August 12, 2007
I appreciate for making this file, and I enjoyed seeing it.
But the program is primitive. Photos are with part missing, it not enlargeable. Pictures are part of complete photos.

Ruben Melamed,
141 Great Neck Road,
Great Neck, NY 11021

Haleh, 2007-08-13 17:07:51 -- Flag for review

Very well produced. Very well edited. I don't necessarily thing it was all encompassing but there's only so much one can do in 8:47.

nadia, 2007-08-13 19:48:01 -- Flag for review

The short filn is not much informative or tell us more than what we already know, while showing a party in NY community, the person in talking about, Beverly hills community. Sorry but not very rich in content.

zohreh zand, 2007-08-14 06:27:49 -- Flag for review

I grew up in Tehran, and spent the summers in Shiraz with my cousins. Most of my closest friends were non Jews, Moslems, Bahai's, Zoroastrians, Christians, Etc. non of us gave this matter a thought, and our friendships were solid. We Iranian Jews are blessed for having grown up in a land with so much historical and cultural richness. What's going on right now is only a single line in the book of Iran's history which started 6,000 years ago.

Joubin Eshaghian, 2007-08-14 09:29:44 -- Flag for review

What Distinguishes the Jews where ever born, Middle East, Europe or U.S., they have been Patriotic to thier homelands and contributed to their community as being no different than the other citizens of that country and have always identified themselves not as Jews but as thier born homeland, and have continued and adopted to the local traditions, listend and danced to thier homeland songs even years after immigration.

arman, 2007-08-14 15:37:12 -- Flag for review

I interviews seemed kind of interesting,but really didn't seem to all that informative. It seems like a lot of things that most of us already knew about ourselves. Nothing was really mentioned about the culture that is so struggling to define itself that is right now between the age of 18 and 50 years old that have such a hard time finding a soulmate and is decent and not worried about material gains and wants to marry jewish but feels like life so stagnet and the same people go to same single events and are judged mostly on how much money or education, or if that are in a lawyer, doctor, or millionaire status and everything expected from that 30 year old something man as is expected from the girls father who has been working hard all his life to have certain life style and they shouldn't expect these things from someone thirty or more years younger. Walking down the any street, I occasionally get a warm smile from a complete stranger, yet many girls that I have known for many in our community not only frown when they see us, but actually try to avoid even saying hello or waiving their hands from up front. I think these issues should be talked about and why our jewish young people are marrying and dating non jewish people and eventually having families with jewish and how come our parents don't realize or care about what is going in our society based on what they tell their princesses and how they only need to acknowledge people for their status in the work place and not who they are as a person and prejudging based on a man's career.

sima Mahfar, 2007-08-14 16:01:56 -- Flag for review

I liked this video very much. I ve been living in Great Neck for the past twenty one years and seen alot of veriaties of persain attitudes and life styles. They have changed , Changed for better. Us persian jews have picked up all the good qualities of american jews and mixed it up with our own traditions , which I think is very rich and valuable.
Please continue informing me with all these good source of imformations.
Thanks

Sima

Ramin, 2007-08-14 19:57:07 -- Flag for review

I think this was a great 1st step in expressing a sentiment felt by many Iranian Jews. I do not accept or appreciate criticisms that it was too short, or narrow minded. If you thought so, why don't you make another video that is more complete?

Dariush, great work. Lots of potential.

Steven, 2007-08-15 12:35:53 -- Flag for review

As an American Jewish man born to Persian parents, I thirst for information about the history of where I would have been born if not for régime change in Iran today. To this day I consider myself to be “Persian”, not to be mistaken for Iranian. I found this semi “documentary” to be extremely superficial and lackluster. To waste half of the clip showing a few people dancing at a bat mitzvah does not represent the Persian Jewish community in Great Neck in anyway! Where were the clips of the Persian Jews walking to Temple on a Saturday, or gathered together for the high holidays? Where were the clips of the Jews in Great Neck or LA that still celebrate the Persian New Year even after being out a country for decades? Total waste of my time, sorry - SD

DAVE, 2007-08-15 13:37:07 -- Flag for review

TO: SIMA MAHFAR - R U IN ANOTHER WORLD? VERY STUPID COMMENTS, COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM TEH TRUTH.

Unknown, 2007-08-15 20:00:57 -- Flag for review

I’m writing unknown because I’m not in the mood for all the BS. I just want to say “how dare Marmar give out this video and have it released with our permission”. It’s disgusting and narcissistic, and to then send out an e-mail and cry about why her nasty husband was not shown dancing (while he faces sexual harassment charges) is unfathomable. Very disrespectful to all of us, they are just very lucky my face didn’t make the cut. This is a huge security breach, and could put us all at major rist.

Michael, 2007-08-15 23:05:10 -- Flag for review

I was born in Iran to a muslin father and a Jewish mother. Neither my mom and my dad did tell me about this situation when I was 13 I left for school in Netherlands as I was in the airport my mom told me she wants to tell me a secret, there I was at age of 13 being told that I am Jewish I didn’t really take it important event in my life because I didn’t know anything about it neither did I care. Eventually when I came to the USA I started doing some research and finding out what it means to be a Jew. So I wonder about the Persian Jews in the USA that are so proud to be Jewish why don’t they know any thing about Judaism or practice it. It is sad with all the freedom that we have our forefathers died to keep the Torah we don’t even own one and if we do, we don’t study it.

Espand, 2007-08-16 07:15:14 -- Flag for review

I am not Jewish, but I am proud to say that our prominent musicians such as Ostad Morteza Neydavood, Yahya, Dardashty, ......saved our music from the barberic fundamentalists throughout centuries. I was born into a Muslim family.

Hamid, 2007-08-17 07:51:38 -- Flag for review

The problem with Iran is its despicable dirty clerical regime . What is needed is a TNB , tactical nuclear bomb to destroy 300,000 Mollahs together with the revolutionary guards and the Ghods force.When America and Europe wake up and decide to do a regime change in Iranan then we Iranian Jews can go back for a visit .Until then Marg Bar Iranian Islamuc Republic .

As to this movie it is nice and interesting ,however very slow to download .

My message to Ahmaghi-nejad : TO Sague e Ki Bashi , BiShour .

Rebecca Kaufman and Deena Guzder, 2007-08-20 11:20:06 -- Flag for review

We, the producers of this mini-documentary, greatly appreciate the various comments people have left about our work. We want to use this space to clarify a few points: (1) we are both recent graduates of Columbia University's Journalism School in New York City who are not part of the Persian Jewish community and have no political agenda; (2) this documentary is meant to serve as a very basic introduction for the general American public, a public that is largely unaware Iran even has a Jewish population in the first place; (3) the documentary was never intended to be all encompassing given the scope of our project; (3) our editors gave us June-July 2007 to produce this project so we were therefor unable to include scenes from High Holidays or the Persian New Year; (4) we respected the sabbath by turning off our broadcast equipment as requested by community members and were therefor unable to include footage from synagogues and services; (5) we interviewed several Persian Jews in NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles before choosing four individuals who eloquently voiced opinions that were representative of our sample; (6) while we encourage people with all points of views to comment on our video, we neither appreciate nor endorse any bellicose views made in response to our documentary against Iran, Jews or specific people we interviewed; (7) we urge people who wish to further explore their Persian Jewish heritage or show a different angle on the community to make their own documentaries and post the links on this website.

Almaz, 2007-08-21 07:06:30 -- Flag for review

Ok I hear mostly negative about this Yes as Persians most of us already know about this but what about the Millions of others who don't and will see this and will have learned something new. This is a HISTORY Lessons. If a history teacher said every year Oh we know this and this is something that I already know then that person is callous and should not teach. Just share it others who don't know like our Ashkenazi brethern in America and others who don't even realise that there IS a such thing as a "Persian Jew"

Go figure

Farhad Moradian, 2007-08-22 04:16:10 -- Flag for review

Also the Iranian jews that live in Israel keep the Iranian traditions.

Mahmoud, 2007-08-24 22:37:01 -- Flag for review

Good work but I hope you continue with telling more stories of discrimination and anti-semitism.

I am a muslim iranian. I've never been anti-semitic. But when I was in Iran, I didn't know how widespread anti-semitism was. I learned about it here.

There is a tendency for Persian jews to always accentuate the positives of their history in Iran. But why? To be nice? To protect relatives still there? Just because jews were not chased out or masacared in Iran doesn't mean everything was OK. What kind of citizenship is that? Roya Hakkakian once said something eye-opening (to me, at least) that jews in Iran were always making a show of their Iranianness and everybody loved that, but felt they were not accepted as their jewish selves.

I want the stories of discrimination documented and preserved for two reasons:
1- because it's the right thing to do. Isn't it true that scarecly any jewish child ever grew up in Iran without having been hurt or discriminated against? There is a human cost that Iranian jews paid to be Iranian and jewish. The story of their troubles should be heard.
2- it is important to show that in a non-secular society, otherwise talented, educated, outstanding citizens who are minorities can not participate and contribute. They will never feel like it's their homeland.

I hope we can collect stories of discrimination and anti-semitism, not as a way to provoke division, but for the avlue of the human stories behind them. All Iranians who are full-fledged human beings should know about it. Everyone will be better for it.

Sylvia BH., 2007-08-29 20:18:22 -- Flag for review

This is the first documentary that I have seen on the internet about the Iranian Jewish community. I would like to applaud Rabecca and Deena for trying in such a short period of time. We Iranians Jews are very proud that we come from a 2500 year history in Iran. That is something very unique in its own way and we must protect and cherish it that so our kids will have the same attitude. It is unfortunate that I see people trying to become Americanized in the way they run their family and their Jewish ways. If we keep this up our traditions and our beliefs will be gone just like any other foreigner. And our thousands of years history will be gone in less than fifty years forever.
This is crucial and we owe it to our ancestors even though we don't live in Iran we MUST and I mean MUST try to protect it. Our children are very confused. They don't know which way to go. The Community needs a center in LA and New York. So people Young and Old could go to for different events and social gathering and for educating the community. About our history our traditions and the way we pray in the synagogue and about our values as the Iranian Jewish community. This is something that will keep the community together. People must donate their time and money to keep it going for the future generation. We must be open minded and charitable and think not just for ourselves but for the whole community.

Roya, 2007-09-01 15:28:17 -- Flag for review

It is admirable to see the persian jews surviving their move to North America and openly practice their religion, however it was surprising to see their measure of success portrayed by the Bat Mitzvah shown in the video. I would have much rather heard how they survived moving to North America without speaking english, having a job or a home and inspite all difficulties managing to practice their religion.

Anonymous, 2007-09-01 15:29:42 -- Flag for review

Keivan, 2007-09-03 16:14:56 -- Flag for review

Born and raised in Iran, I have been privileged to have two of my best friends of the Jewish faith. We regularly visited each others homes, and our parents treated us no different than kids of their own faith. We celebrated Persian & Jewish festivities, went to the same school, studied together, cheated together!, got into trouble together, and got out of trouble together. That is my experience with the Jewish faith and people. That is how I remember and retell my childhood stories to my son. In US, our kids will choose their partners and spouses irrespective of faith. Iran's new generation, and hopefully not all of it, may have been brainwashed with fear and hate, but we have a choice. Let's not spread the negatives.

The Persian Jews are a fascinating people and one can not resist the affinity towards them. All the best.

Bayan, 2007-09-07 22:06:12 -- Flag for review

Hopefully a little more positive next time! Good effort

sheeba Josef, 2007-09-13 09:27:26 -- Flag for review

Excellent article to know about the Persian Jews. i really loved it. I felt so close with that community, though being a non jewish, i was able to learn and know more of your history

Michelle Elihu, 2007-09-18 08:26:18 -- Flag for review

I am an American Jewish woman(Ashkenazi)and am happily married with a Persian Jewish man. I am truly grateful that both our families have come together. My grandparents came from Russia,(or rather BelaRuse(sp?),and passed on the importance of family togetherness and traditions,and as a small child I so enjoyed these times. When I met my husband, I was delighted to see him and his family and extended families doing these same things. I think alot of extended Ashkenazi families are missing this very vital link of family get-togethers these days in lieu of going their separate ways. I'd also like to see more of a bridge made between American Jewish and Persian Jewish people. As an American Jewish people, we too are grappling with our own identity, both as Jews and Americans. I also often wonder why Persian Jewish groups and American Jewish groups hesitate to mix with each other. I think it will help everyones' Jewish faith and fellowship if we find a way to make a lasting bridge with each other and not close ourselves off from one another. Please continue to make more films and Thank You so much for making this beautiful documentary!

Michelle Elihu

dan, 2007-09-18 18:16:38 -- Flag for review

dan, 2007-09-18 18:16:40 -- Flag for review

dan, 2007-09-18 18:58:31 -- Flag for review

As an iranian jew raised in the USA since my teenage years I find this report lacking both depth of content and facts. this is due to two factors. a)eight minutes is hardly time to outline the issues. b) the producers inability interview a bigger sample of the iranian jewish community in the united states.
there is no question about the discrimination against the iranian jewish community,both then and now

i think one of the biggest problems that iranian jewish community in US faces today is the loss of family values. unfortunately we are telling our childern to make friends and recognize people's achivements by their zip code rather than who they are and what they stand for.

Parisa, 2007-09-20 14:49:43 -- Flag for review

Well done!

Jeff Reid, 2007-09-20 22:33:05 -- Flag for review

I had no idea of the size of the community of displaced Persian Jews. I see many felt this video was not all encompassing, or told the whole story. But as an educational bit of information for those of us without knowledge it is a great method to keep awareness afloat. I would like to learn more now after viewing this video. Thank you for spearking my interest.

eliabeth, 2007-09-28 15:33:15 -- Flag for review

i am looking for a jewish iranian stone dealer
he calls himself Mickey or HG O.R. Corp
address is P.O.Box 234235
Greatneck NY
516-413-1477 he is not being honest in business
He needs to contact me
Or I will have to send someone into your community to
investigate. thank-you

eliabeth, 2007-09-28 15:33:20 -- Flag for review

i am looking for a jewish iranian stone dealer
he calls himself Mickey or HG O.R. Corp
address is P.O.Box 234235
Greatneck NY
516-413-1477 he is not being honest in business
He needs to contact me
Or I will have to send someone into your community to
investigate. thank-you

Kingcyrus, 2007-10-10 04:39:29 -- Flag for review

to Sima Mahfar, It is totally a PERSONAL decision to date whoever one decides to date. we are all created the same way from the same parents ( Adam and Eve) Please respect equality of human beings. also the other thing I have noticed among 40% of persian jews is that they prefferd to be called persian and not Iranian , thinking that the word Iran would automatically put them on the Islamic regime side? Iran has been a multi religional country from day 1 which dates back to almost 7000 years ago , so don't worry, by calling yourself Iranian you dont convert to Islam

Sina, 2007-10-15 03:26:18 -- Flag for review

Come on, there are more Iranian muslims being executed for speaking against the government than any other religion. The government in Iran will stamp over anyone who speaks against the government, whether Jewish, Kurdish, Muslim or Christian. It's a semi-dictatorial government, and you expect Jewish liberalism when even Persian Muslims are oppressed themselves?? I think we have to take 1 step back, and look at Iran's problem as unilateral, not just something Jews go through since statistics seriously shows no difference between Irans brutal punishment from that of a Jew or a moden Tehrani muslim who wants to be free.

boruch, 2007-10-18 00:32:42 -- Flag for review

if any persian jewish girl likes playing high risk investment games consider dating me an ashkenazi geek with a plan to destroy google and hire bill gates to be our shabbas goy. dump at fuzzlight dot com

Sima Mahfar, 2007-11-01 08:49:14 -- Flag for review

To Dave -
I do not think any jew should stay in Iran. The fact that the persain jews came to America and carried on their tradition so far, is a very valuable characteristic . Dave, please let me know if you are a friend of mine .

Ben Aharon, 2007-11-27 15:16:27 -- Flag for review

long live iranian jewry.
Especially MASHAD jews!

Mayer, 2007-12-17 15:11:36 -- Flag for review

Thank you for making this video. My family and I enjoyed it very much

David, 2008-01-15 13:09:18 -- Flag for review

Thank you Rebecca and Deena for producing such an educational and informative video about Iranian Jews. As an Iranian Jew myself, I have been robbed from the rich culture, tradition and history that has been passed down from generation to generation. This video gave me insight on who I am in relation to my ancestry. Thank you so much for that.

Onyx, 2008-01-17 14:59:56 -- Flag for review

A person who is humble to God is under his hand and believe the Hebrew writings of the Torah. The Torah was copied, studied, and taught by Jews who sat in the seat of the mosaic law to teach the people. God's kingdom was made up of many kings and lords from many nations, with one common place (a birthright in Israel). We, today, regardless if we are Persian jews,Iranian jews, or Hebrew jews must stop respecting ourselves and shedding the blood of this covenant, so that, all the children of God can come under the hand of the Almighty God. And this is the way of Abraham,of Issac and of Jacob, our fathers. If there is only one God, and we do affirm that to be true, then, we must stand as one people as our fathers stood whose heart and soul looked to him that fashioned us all together. Barukh Adonai Elohim: Barakhi Nafshi et Adonai.

Anonymous, 2008-03-15 15:03:25 -- Flag for review

Pouya Makabi, 2008-05-31 15:35:59 -- Flag for review

This is a great video. Makes me proud to be an Iranian Jew

Pouya Makabi, 2008-05-31 15:44:38 -- Flag for review

First I want to say this is a great video. Makes me even prouder to call myself an American Iranian Jew. Throughtout all the prejedice and hardships Jews have been through in the middle many have failed to keep their true heritage and were forced to convert to islam to avoid trouble. Our ancestors had too much respect for themselves and their parents to perform this sin. Judaism is the heir to all other religions and should be the most respected.

- Pouya Makabi
818 American Iranian Jew

An Athiest, 2008-07-29 02:58:25 -- Flag for review

U Jews! Please tell me, were u first a Persian or a Jew?
if u were firstly a Jew, please go to your homeland and don't say Muslims had a bad behavior to us, if not, so u r an ordinary Persian and u have to back to Iran and face all of the troubles that Persians have.

An Atheist, 2008-07-29 03:42:35 -- Flag for review

U Persian origin-first class American citizen Jews! first of all determine your nationality, second do not express your historical malingering! and third please be informed that there is no equality in Iran, but not between Muslims and Jews, perhaps between connected people (first class citizen, aprox. 5%) and non-connected people (second class citizen, 95%), fourth all of u (Jews, Christians, Muslims) follow the stone-age religions so do not say Persian are the Muslims who live in stone-age.

Michael, 2008-07-31 11:40:17 -- Flag for review

So the message is that; I do not want to fight for a place as important as my homeland, regardless of my religion, I just go where I can Benefit!? The sacrifices that was made throughout history where Iranian (people) stud up for Jews is worthless. As long as Israeli government that is as corrupt as any other government (just look at news) uses Jewish people as their front for their political gain, then I use them as my reason to look only for my interest!? So the only reason that Jewish people go back to Iran to make some money is to draw more blood from the "Kind" people that they highly talk about? So let the poor stupid Muslim people fight for that country and once it is ready to be raped again, I'll go back and make some more money?!

Dany, 2008-07-31 11:44:44 -- Flag for review

... Unfortunately you are right. The corrupted Israeli government has made a deal with Britain (since 1940's) to get Palestine and in return get America back for them (by the lobbyist).

Anonymous, 2008-07-31 11:57:56 -- Flag for review

^^^ Right on Michael. You said it brother. Just use and abuse people and places dropout history. How about some loyalty and not using a stone age story as an excuse? How about humanity, love, caring, ....
it is a shame. It is a shame specially coming from Homa Sarshar who understandably has sacrificed a lot, to be part of this program. Maybe you do not want to go back but do not cut off your support for the people who stud up for you.
^^^

Hassan, 2008-07-31 11:58:57 -- Flag for review

^^^ Right on Michael. You said it brother. Just use and abuse people and places dropout history. How about some loyalty and not using a stone age story as an excuse? How about humanity, love, caring, ....
it is a shame. It is a shame specially coming from Homa Sarshar who understandably has sacrificed a lot, to be part of this program. Maybe you do not want to go back but do not cut off your support for the people who stud up for you.
^^^

Hassan, 2008-07-31 11:59:57 -- Flag for review

^^^ Right on Michael. You said it brother. Just use and abuse people and places dropout history. How about some loyalty and not using a stone age story as an excuse? How about humanity, love, caring, ....
it is a shame. It is a shame specially coming from Homa Sarshar who understandably has sacrificed a lot, to be part of this program. Maybe you do not want to go back but do not cut off your support for the people who stud up for you.
^^^

Moshe, 2008-08-06 00:12:38 -- Flag for review

Iranian Jewry needs to be preserved and supported! Please watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA7yz2vciGk

Also a MUST SEE
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=lM7fbFJGFTk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmCIw5lPi-M&NR=1

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