Iranian Jews and the Cash Offer
Bigotry Has Often Hardened the Jews’ Zeal to Return to Israel
The Jews in Iran have lived under discrimination especially after the Islamization of the country in the seventh century AD, despite their ancient roots there.
Social Discrimination of the Jews
The recent reports of money being offered to Iranian Jews in return for their consent to immigrate to Israel made a hot topic of debate among political observers concerned of the Middle Eastern affairs. Though it may be true that some groups have attempted to influence the Jews to accept the cash offer without regard to the currently prevailing political atmosphere in Iran, many of those who discussed the matter failed to grasp the harsh reality.
The social discrimination the Iranian Jews are subjected to is nothing but a resumption of the inequity and bigotry the Jews suffered in the eastern European countries about a century ago. History shows that the idea of immigration to Israel only gets hardened into zeal under the oppressive policies of host nations.
Just like the Polish Jews were required to wear a yellow Star of David on their chest or a blue and white Star of David arm band and make themselves easily distinguishable in public places as non-Polish, there were reports recently that the Iranian government had told the Jews to wear a distinguishing yellow band in public places.
The need to differentiate the looks of peoples arises out of the need to apply two different sets of social rules. A people that is not considered fit to lead a life that is governed by the same laws that are applied to other citizens of a nation, for whatever reason, cannot expect itself to be treated as loyal and as faithful to that nation as the dominant group there – irrespective of how truly loyal it is.
Origins of the Iranian Jews
The Iranian Jews, also called Persian Jews, are the descendants of the Jews who were taken into Babylon in captivity by Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century BC. They escaped mass persecution by Haman during the rule of King Xerxes by the timely help of Queen Esther, and hence are also known as Esther’s Jews. They have lived in Persia, now called Iran, for more than two thousand years and are among the earliest of the inhabitants of the land.
Monetary Assistance is Absolutely Essential
As dam evacuees who lose their lands, homes, and livelihood and are shifted to new places where they have to begin a new life, the Jews who immigrate to Israel from foreign countries have to start a new life in a new land. They even have to learn a new language in Hebrew. Such people who suddenly find themselves in the middle of totally unfamiliar and unknown surroundings in a new land surely need help to find a livelihood and settle down, notwithstanding their cultural longing to go to that land.
No amount of financial assistance would fully compensate the loss. So, the money offered to leave a land where the people have lived for several generations and travel to the ancient homeland of their forefathers is an absolute necessity.
On the other hand, it is only natural for the Iranian Jews, like the members of the Jewish Diaspora communities elsewhere, to have a desire deep in their hearts to return to Israel. The compensation money is only aimed at aiding the fulfillment of this without risking total impoverishment. It is not a bribe.
