... Come to join, not to separate
(Ma Baraye’ Vasl Kardan Amadim, Nay Baraye’ Fasl Kardan Amadim)

Dear friends, brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents;

There is amongst many of us, much worry and concern about the future of our community in the US. Worry and concern for ourselves and our children as how we will be able to not only preserve - if at all possible - but to strengthen our ever-diminishing identity as Jews who are also Iranians. And by identity, it is not meant the “Iranian aspect” of our identity - although important - but rather the “Jewish aspect” of our identity.

The Persian aspect of our identity started couple of thousand years ago as a result of a historical event, under the guidance of the Divine Providence who always willed and continues to will the history as He sees fit. It started after the destruction of the 1st Temple, when our Jewish ancestors went on exile to Babylon. This Persian aspect has evolved over all these years, and we have developed our unique set of beautiful customs and culture; a mixed bag of Persian, Moslem and other customs with a healthy dose of Jewish flavor and sensitivities; chessed (kindness), tzdakah (charity), love of family, etc.

Now comes the big news. This cultural identity is not our essence. Let’s see how. You were born to Jewish parents in Iran and let’s say that they named you Shahriar. They also gave you the Hebrew name Dovood (Dovid), at your Brit Mila. Now realize that had you been born to Jewish parents in Mexico, they would have called you something like Manuel, and they would have still given you the Hebrew name Dovid. You could have been born to American Jewish parents. They would have called you something like Stewart, and they would have still given you the Hebrew name Dovid. Do you get the point? You could have even been born in Afghanistan as an Amir, but they would have still given you the Hebrew name Dovid. Now you get it. Your cultural identity wants you to believe that you are a Shahriar, a Manuel, a Stewart, or an Amir. But your essence was, is, and will always be Dovid, because your core is a Jew, because you have a Jewish soul, a neshama. This is true for all of us; Bahram, Maziar, Mehran, Parvin, Mojgan, Mehrzad. And it is this Jewish neshama that is your essence. And it is this aspect that many of us are consciously or sub-consciously worried and concerned about.

Now, this could be viewed as a politically incorrect statement. You might ask: “What do you mean that I have a Jewish soul?, that I am different than others?”. But I beg you not to judge. Please don’t forget, “Ma Baraye’ Vasl Kardan Amadim, Nay Baraye’ Fasl Kardan Amadim”. We must try to understand what is said here. Was it easy for any of us to become a doctor, a dentist, an engineer, or a successful businessman? Did we become one overnight? No, we worked hard at it for years and many sleepless nights. And why did we do it? Because it was important for us to have a meaningful, rewarding and prestigious career, and also we probably wanted to change the world in some small way. So, if we come to recognize that it is even more important and meaningful to get to know our essence, and if we get to realize and appreciate what it means to be a Jew, we will put the same hard work to know our very core. The key factor is in coming to this realization. So, how do we do it?

Education, Education, Education. Just as your diamond expert in downtown LA or 47th St. can easily distinguish between diamond and cubic zirconia, we need to become experts and educate ourselves and our children so that we can see and believe in ourselves as our true diamonds, and not as counterfeits.

So, let us say that for the time being we have agreed that there is such a thing as Jewish neshama. Now, although you can never totally destroy your Jewish neshama, you can tarnish it and diminish its glow very severely. What does this mean? It means that the more you distance yourself from G-d, the Source of input of Divine energy to your soul, the more you diminish the glow and vitality or your soul. It is like taking a beautiful and majestic princess, and putting her in a dark and horrible prison chamber. She will just wither away, get depressed and die.....