For Iranians in the Diaspora, This Is the Most Important Moment of Our Lives – Jewish Journal
Posted By admin on October 15, 2022
Something remarkable perhaps even miraculous is happening halfway around the world. For over 43 years, post-revolutionary Iran has been forbidden to millions who escaped from the country. But today, due to the unbelievable courage and sacrifice of thousands of Iranian protestors, the prospect of the regime actually crumbling has Iranians in the diaspora bursting with anxious anticipation, wondering if theyll be able to return to a free Iran.
Theres so much at stake. In the words of one Iranian American friend: Im afraid to let myself think it [regime change] could actually happen, because weve been waiting and praying for it for so long.
The unprecedented rage of citizens against the regimes oppression renders todays protests uniquely historic, because this time, there may be no turning back. Theres so much on the line a free Iran and a more stable Middle East that the consequences are nearly heart-pounding. And if youre an Iranian in the diaspora, you get it.
Still, there are those who scratch their heads at the concept of never being able to return to a place that once was called home. I love Americans, but in my experience many of them believe that an immigrant (or even a refugee) arrives in the United States seeking a better life, but is free to visit his or her former country from time to time.
This probably explains why, over the course of 16 years since I first began speaking about Iran and the Middle East, Americans have asked me dozens of times if Ive ever been back to Iran or have any plans to visit the country again.
The answer is always the same: No, I havent been back because after my escape, Iran became forbidden to me (and millions of others). And what happens to those of us, the simultaneously blessed and pained, for whom there is no going back to our former homelands?
Were blessed because we were redeemed in new countries that are compassionate democracies; were pained because were outcasts from our former homelands, where our ancestors lived for millennia, still haunted by the traumas from a land that was supposed to nurture us, but cast us out, leaving us to connect to it from the loneliness of the periphery, or to abandon any semblance of connection altogether.
Today, were witnessing an all-or-nothing moment for Iranians inside Iran and in the diaspora. And if youre an Iranian Jew, its complicated.
Today, were witnessing an all-or-nothing moment for Iranians inside Iran and in the diaspora. And if youre an Iranian Jew, its complicated.
A few months ago, it was easier for me to believe that moshiach would arrive this year than to think there might be regime change in Iran. Thats how powerful the regime is, and how hard it would be to untie its stranglehold over the Middle East and beyond.
Iranian Jews outside of Iran live in two diasporas: one Jewish and the other Iranian. Many of us live by the words of the 12th-century Spanish-Jewish philosopher, Yehuda Halevi, who wrote, My heart is in the east, and I in the uttermost west. Yet for us, this poem signals a cry of the heart toward Jerusalem and Israel, but also toward Iran. Isnt that complicated?
I once met a Jew who escaped the former USSR and now lives in Los Angeles. We soon realized that as child refugees, we had both lived in an Italian refugee processing city at the same time in the late eighties. After the fall of Communism, she was able to visit Kyiv, her former city, and even say hello to old neighbors. Ill admit I was overtaken with envy. My friend was able to drink tea with old neighbors in a newly-free country, but I still wasnt able to visit the graves of my paternal grandparents, whom I never saw again after escaping Iran, because Irans Iron Curtain, or Irans hijab, if you will, still hadnt fallen.
Ive met young writers whove taken advantage of powerful Jewish heritage trips to countries such as Poland, and young professionals whove enjoyed charming tours titled Inside Jewish Morocco and Inside Jewish Cuba (both hosted by JDC Entwine). When will it be time to sign up for Inside Jewish Iran? After all, the country is home to the second-largest population of Jews in the Middle East after Israel.
I know regime change is still a dream, and at this time Im concerned exclusively about the safety of innocent Iranians (nearly 200 have been killed and thousands arrested during recent protests). But the thought of regime change is such a deep yearning that Iranians in the diaspora need to hold space for both the pain of protestors sacrifices and the joy of a potentially free Iran.
So in the spirit of optimism and daring to dream, I approached elderly Jews in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles and asked what they would do if they were able to return to a free Iran this year, if only for a temporary visit. Their generation is one that has especially strong ties to Iran (and lost everything when they escaped).
One mans words humbled me: Do you really want to hear my answer? he asked in Persian. Its a modest wish, but I would walk down the street and read every sign, and speak with everyone fluently in my mother tongue. Id feel like a king.
One elderly woman declared, I would kiss the earth [of Iran]. I really would. I kissed the earth of Israel when I first visited during the time of the Shah, and I would kiss the ground of my original land now.
Another man indulged in two fantasies: I would go to my old synagogue and complete the minyan, because I hear they have so few attendees these days. But first, I would hug my brother for days, because I havent seen him in 41 years.
And then, there was the simple wish of one elderly woman: I would just go back to my old house, she said. I still have the keys. I know its someone elses home now, but I would knock on the door and ask if they would let me stand in my old kitchen and sit with a cup of tea in my old living room.
In truth, if any exiled Iranians in the diaspora are ever able to visit a free Iran, itll be due to the incredible courage and unspeakable sacrifices of protestors who are being killed, injured, tortured or arrested today, as well the thousands whove risen against the regime for decades. I hope they know and feel the support and gratitude of millions worldwide, beginning in the greater Middle East, where every single Israeli, Saudi and Afghan (especially Afghan women) would owe these protestors an enormous debt of gratitude. Hezbollah and Hamas, on the other hand, would be utterly horrified (and bankrupt) if the mullahs lose power.
Of course, even if there was regime change, no one would expect Iran to morph into a secular democracy overnight.
Of course, even if there was regime change, no one would expect Iran to morph into a secular democracy overnight. But still, isnt it wonderful to imagine a free, stable Iran, an Iran in which there are dozens of flights to America at Tehrans airport each day? Or delegations of Israeli water management experts working with Iranian scientists and farmers to tackle devastating droughts? Or my ultimate fantasy for a free Iran: a female president who eradicates compulsory hijab and legislates compulsory education.
Ive repeatedly read that only months before the Berlin Wall fell, few in East Berlin thought they would ever gain freedom again. Maybe its too painful to imagine something so beautiful and so fragile.
Yes, its the regime that has the weapons, but even if these protests end today, I dont see how the mullahs could keep demanding that Iranians citizens continue to agree to their own oppression. And even if the regime abolishes the hated modesty police (who killed 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and so many others), but keeps other forms of oppression intact, the whole tyrannical system would quickly unravel. Simply put, itll be impossible to ask Iranians to now compromise and agree to 50% oppression.
Will these incredible protests lead to historic regime change? Ill answer that with another critical question: At this point, is there any going back?
Tabby Refael is an award-winning LA-based writer, speaker and civic action activist. Follow her on Twitter @TabbyRefael
Read the original here:
For Iranians in the Diaspora, This Is the Most Important Moment of Our Lives - Jewish Journal
- Kenyans in diaspora tend to send more money home the weaker the Kenyan shilling gets - Business Insider Africa - March 27th, 2023
- Express View: Obsession with Khalistan seethes at the margins of Sikh diaspora, finds little resonance in Punjab - The Indian Express - March 27th, 2023
- Singers The Bala Boys on buying a one-way ticket to Chennai, the diaspora and working with a twin - The Hindu - March 12th, 2023
- Members of the Russian diaspora join global protests marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Global Voices - February 27th, 2023
- It's with Great Difficulty That the Diaspora Builds a Home and to Pay Extra Tax if It's ... - Latest Tweet - LatestLY - February 25th, 2023
- Diaspora | social science | Britannica - January 27th, 2023
- Wheres the outrage? The silence of New Jerseys Peruvian diaspora to recent state violence is palpable. | Op - NJ.com - January 21st, 2023
- Rise of the Western Armenian Diaspora in the Early Modern Ottoman Empire by Dr. Henry Shapiro - Armenian News by MassisPost - January 12th, 2023
- EXCLUSIVE! Anoushka Shankar: Representation from the Indian diaspora in music has been increasing over the years abroad - Entertainment News ,... - December 23rd, 2022
- In Order to Ensure Safety and Security of the Indian Diaspora in Mongolia, Embassy of ... - Latest Tweet by - LatestLY - December 23rd, 2022
- Hakeem Jeffries likely to succeed Pelosi, will be a leader for Indian American diaspora: says Congressman Krishnamoorthi - ThePrint - November 19th, 2022
- Georgia: Ukrainian diaspora to rally in Tbilisi Oct. 14 to denounce Russian invasion of Ukraine - Crisis24 - October 15th, 2022
- The chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora is on a visit to Australia Aze.Media - Aze Media - October 15th, 2022
- More Nigerians In The Diaspora Should Be Awarded- Dabiri-Erewa - Heritage Times - The Heritage Times - October 15th, 2022
- When will the Diaspora and the Homeland embrace interdependency? - Armenian Weekly - October 12th, 2022
- 6 members of Kerala diaspora to be honored in NY | India Post News Paper - IndiaPost.com - October 12th, 2022
- Scottish Connections (diaspora) work: qualitative research - gov.scot - The Scottish Government - October 12th, 2022
- avuolu Urges His Compatriots In France For "coordinated Actions Against The Armenian Diaspora" - GreekCityTimes.com - October 12th, 2022
- Yvonne Orji Discusses the Importance of Supporting the Diaspora and Her New Special 'A Whole Me' - Ebony - EBONY - October 12th, 2022
- Taking Nigeria from Third to First World through its diaspora (3), By Sunday Adelaja - Premium Times - October 12th, 2022
- Hindu diaspora under attack: The rising trends of global Hinduphobia, attacks by Islamists and propaganda - OpIndia - October 12th, 2022
- A voice from the Diaspora: A culture of entitlement - Jamaica Observer - October 12th, 2022
- Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes: From Leicester to New Jersey, the diaspora is reflecting the divisions of Indian politics - The Indian Express - September 21st, 2022
- Hispanic Heritage Month: The importance of Afro-Latinx identity in the diaspora. | Opinion - NJ.com - September 21st, 2022
- Tibetans Struggle to Save Their Language - Foreign Policy - September 21st, 2022
- NUP protests in diaspora threaten IPOD existence Todwong - KFM - September 21st, 2022
- Members of diaspora have always been admirable Indian ambassadors: PM Modi - The Tribune India - September 21st, 2022
- World loved her: Indian diaspora in UK mourns the Queen - The Tribune India - September 21st, 2022
- 'The Woman King' Cast Dismantle the Strong Black Woman Trope, Stress Community Across the Black Diaspora - Shondaland.com - September 21st, 2022
- Daylight Africa celebrates 20th anniversary of African Union in Gambia - The Point - The Point - September 21st, 2022
- Actor-producer is on mission to tell real-life stories about the Latino diaspora without stereotypes - syracuse.com - September 8th, 2022
- Katherine Leung Talks About Her 'Canto Cutie' Zine, Which Celebrates the Cantonese Diaspora - Seven Days - September 8th, 2022
- Arts On Site Presents The Diaspora Fest: A Celebration Of Black Performing Artists - Broadway World - September 8th, 2022
- Proxy Indians: Diaspora success stories should give rise not to rejoicing but to regret for talent lost to us - Times of India - September 8th, 2022
- People of Indian Diaspora including J&K have become most prosperous group in the world: LG - Greater Kashmir - September 8th, 2022
- UN Honours the Contributions of the African Diaspora - IDN InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters - September 8th, 2022
- The Race for the Votes from BiH and the Diaspora begins - Sarajevo Times - September 8th, 2022
- The African Diaspora: We are family - The Voice Online - September 6th, 2022
- There is no institutional Connection between the State of BiH and the Diaspora - Sarajevo Times - September 6th, 2022
- Om Birla interacts with Indian diaspora in Paris, hails their contribution in India's growth journey - Devdiscourse - September 6th, 2022
- Nagar: For most of the Indian diaspora in Calgary, Churchill is not worthy of a statue - Calgary Herald - September 6th, 2022
- Indian envoy asks diaspora youth to connect to their roots,... - The American Bazaar - July 31st, 2022
- Nigerians in diaspora will soon be able to vote, says Orji Kalu - Guardian Nigeria - July 31st, 2022
- What my family's photographs and their fashions revealed to me about the Caribbean-Canadian diaspora - CBC.ca - July 31st, 2022
- Mayor of Island of Maio in Cabo Verde visits New Bedford - SouthCoastToday.com - July 31st, 2022
- Clever ways Kenyans in the diaspora are investing back home - The Standard - July 31st, 2022
- Turning Passion into Reality - St. Lucia News From The Voice - The Voice St. Lucia - July 31st, 2022
- Saving women from the men they leave - The Statesman - July 31st, 2022
- Dance, diversity and diaspora - The New Indian Express - July 23rd, 2022
- Second Karabakh war witnessed lots of false information paid for by Armenian diaspora Center for Strategic Studies of Iraq - AzerNews.Az - July 23rd, 2022
- Bringing the Sounds of the Diaspora Home - Armenian Weekly - July 21st, 2022
- Southern Baptist organizations come together to reach diaspora - Baptist Press - July 21st, 2022
- Getty Images Tells Stories of Black Diaspora With 30,000 Rare Images - My Modern Met - July 21st, 2022
- Minister Theodorikakos: Extending Greek Passport Validity To 10 Years Will Lessen Bureaucracy For Diaspora - GreekCityTimes.com - July 21st, 2022
- The life of the Church and the Diaspora in Adelaide - Orthodox Times - Orthodoxtimes.com - July 21st, 2022
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art to showcase contemporary artists of the African diaspora - Daily Independent - July 21st, 2022
- Herald Artday to host charity auction to help Korean youth diaspora project - The Korea Herald - July 21st, 2022
- Youth from Diaspora tipped on business opportunities in Rwanda - The New Times - July 21st, 2022
- Pacific Engagement Visa quotas need to be set strategically and selectively - devpolicy.org - July 21st, 2022
- How to Resist China's Campaign of Transnational Repression - The Diplomat - July 21st, 2022
- Carrying on the legacy of the Cordero siblings | Business | theweeklyjournal.com - The Weekly Journal - July 21st, 2022
- Silverlens Gallery, a Heavyweight in the Southeast Asian Art Scene, Is Flipping the Script by Expanding Westward With a New York Outpost - artnet News - July 21st, 2022
- Tourism Minister Bah meets Gambians in the UK - The Point - The Point - July 21st, 2022
- A Woman of the World: Armen Ohanian, Published by Armenian Series at Fresno State - The Armenian Mirror-Spectator - July 21st, 2022
- What is a Diaspora? (with picture) - Cultural World - July 18th, 2022
- Seven mistakes the African diaspora make when starting a business in Africa - How we made it in Africa - July 18th, 2022
- Report: Getty Images Opens Access to 30000 Images of Black Diaspora in UK and US - LJ INFOdocket - July 18th, 2022
- Culture Talk: Curator Kanitra Fletcher on the Exhibition Afro-Atlantic Histories: It's About 'How the African Diaspora Comprises All These Voices and... - July 18th, 2022
- Rwandan youth in Diaspora urged to replicate 'Walk to Remember' - The New Times - July 18th, 2022
- Diaspora claims that Registration System for Elections on the BiHCEC is not working - Sarajevo Times - July 18th, 2022
- Voluntary slavery rampant in the Diaspora - The Herald - July 18th, 2022
- Kenyans in the diaspora embrace new tech solution, KimboCare - GhettoRadio 89.5 FM - July 18th, 2022
- The Middle Eastern Party Scene Thriving in Brooklyn - The New York Times - July 18th, 2022
- Redefining Sonic and Safety Standards in the Music Industry: The New Diaspora Music Experience - BrownGirlMag - July 14th, 2022
- HIAS: An important step for the networking of the Greek scientific diaspora with Greece - Hellenic News of America - July 14th, 2022
- Vic Mensa's 'SKIN + MASKS' Exhibit Puts a Spotlight on the Diaspora's Most Talented Artists - OkayAfrica - July 14th, 2022
- SendSprint launches in the UK with a $5 flat fee for international transfers - TechCabal - July 14th, 2022
- Jamaicas Opposition Tour of the Diaspora begins this Wednesday (July 13) - South Florida Caribbean News - July 14th, 2022
- Most Ugandans in Diaspora are ignorant of the investment incentives - New Vision - July 14th, 2022
- Elegies' investigates the presenceand absenceof the Black body - Document Journal - July 14th, 2022
Comments