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Last update - 05:19 15/02/2008 Iran Jews celebrate Persian roots, seek to maintain shrinking community By The Associated Press Tags: Susa, Prophet Daniel Members of Iran's tiny Jewish minority gathered at the holy shrine of the Prophet Daniel in the southwest of the country Thursday to celebrate their Persian roots and keep alive a dwindling community. More than 200 Iranian Jews embarked on the long journey to Susa from cities across Iran to celebrate their Jewishness in an event organized by a local Jewish youth group to support the community. "This gathering helps promote unity, affection and friendship among Iranian Jews. We are determined to pay homage to Daniel once a year," said Bahador Michael, 26, of the Yaran organization that began organizing the trips five years ago. "It has been a great success and local authorities have been very cooperative." Advertisement Iran's 25,000 Jews, the largest community in the Middle East outside Israel, face no restriction on their religious practice, though they must follow Islamic dress codes such as head scarves for women. Jewish population in Iran, however, has been shrinking from emigration to Israel, the United States and elsewhere. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, nearly 100,000 Jews lived in Iran. Just in December, some 40 Jews secretly immigrated to Israel in a trip sponsored by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a charity receiving millions of dollars from evangelical donors each year. Jewish leaders in Iran denied that it was an organized immigration. "Prophet Daniel is the symbol of our proud Persian roots. The gathering in Susa is to highlight our presence in Iran since ancient times," said Farhad Aframian, the editor of the monthly Jewish magazine, who described the gathering as an opportunity for Jews from all over the country to socialize and keep in touch. Inside the shrine, Jewish women sat reciting verses from the Torah, while nearby men in skull cups prayed loudly in Hebrew. "I feel and peace when I pray here," said Parviz Minaei, a 50-year-old retiree. In addition to the tomb of the Prophet Daniel, Iran is also home to another of Judaism's important sites, the shrine of Mordechai an Esther, who became a Persian queen and persuaded King Xerxes not to slaughter the Jews in an event subsequently celebrated by the festival of Purim Bookmark to del.icio.us   Independence day Kosovars rejoice as Kosovo declares itself an independent and sovereign state. Settling the score 1/3 of W. Bank settlements are on Palestinian land seized for 'security purposes.'   1.   Wishing Persian Jews the best 06:24  |  Awake 15/02/08   2.   Islam is being shoved down Iranian Jews` throats 06:25  |  Conroy 15/02/08   3.   This is the way Jews (and other minorities) are treated in Iran 06:33  |  Conroy 15/02/08   4.   what a load of crap 07:11  |  the truth 15/02/08   5.   Iranian discrimination, no freedom 07:15  |  judith 15/02/08   6.   Shutup Conroy 07:21  |  AJ 15/02/08   7.   Awake@#1 07:54  |  akiva (zionist) 15/02/08   8.   Typist made many mistakes, was nervous because of gun at head 08:05  |  Efox 15/02/08   9.   great, but don`t mislead people! 08:51  |  the truth 15/02/08   10.   Conroy. Religious Jewish people of Iran. 09:10  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/08   11.   Maureen 11:21  |  Rab Burns 15/02/08   12.   #6 Shutup AJ 11:22  |  Soraya 15/02/08   13.   #10 Maureen Ann 11:27  |  Sarah 15/02/08   14.   does anyone know what he is talking about 13:46  |  shireen 15/02/08   15.   #12 14:23  |  opinion 15/02/08   16.   muareen ann 14:41  |  matt 15/02/08   17.   Jews leaving ..... 17:12  |  bingbong 15/02/08   18.   Only a few 17:20  |  Jackie 15/02/08   19.   The Future Of Iran`s Jews 18:12  |  Norman F Birnberg 15/02/08   20.   Re: Iranian Discrimination, No Freedom 18:17  |  Norman F Birnberg 15/02/08   21.   If Ahmedinejad was president of Iran during Hitler`s time 18:22  |  Conroy 15/02/08   22.   Wait a sec, it wasnt just the Jews that left IRan after 1979 00:14  |  Ramin 16/02/08   23.   Islam is being shoved down their throats 00:24  |  Mehrnaz SHAHABI 16/02/08   24.   equal rights 00:47  |  Joe 16/02/08   25.   HERE THEY GO AGAIN! 01:21  |  Cyrus the Great 16/02/08   26.   #6 Ajay you need to learn some manners 03:00  |  Conroy 16/02/08   27.   #26. That`s how David Duke justifies his hate mongering. 18:14  |  ManInTheMiddle 16/02/08   28.   An Iranian Jew in Iran: I resent you all 19:25  |  MJ 16/02/08   29.   Number 28, "Neocon" "BS" 05:53  |  David B 17/02/08   30.   To the Ignorant David B & others like U 16:43  |  MJ 17/02/08   31.   Iran Jews celebrate Persian roots.... 20:55  |  Reza 17/02/08   32.   There are a lot more Jews in Iran than 25000 03:58  |  Kian 18/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Anti-Zionism as a form of racism Responses: 23 Anshel Pfeffer: Is Israel risking the lives of Jews elsewhere? Responses: 3 Akiva Eldar: Negotiate over Jerusalem now Responses: 3 Report: Progress made in Shalit prisoner swap deal Responses: 2 Hezbollah: Mugniyah killing revenge to be 'extremely costly' Responses: 40 Rosner's Domain Brzezinski didn't show up (WTR) How would Obama handle Israel? Ex-advisors offer clues Clinton's peace team: the attacks on Rob Malley "vicious" (WTR) Most blatant example of Israeli interference in American election The U.S. and Mughniyah / Not just 'who' but also 'where' More Headlines 09:28 Report: Progress made in Shalit prisoner swap deal 09:23 PM: No new settlements to come but existing blocs, J'lem to keep growing 08:00 Hezbollah: Revenge for Mugniyah killing to be 'extremely costly' for Israel 03:12 UN official warns against Gaza invasion, says diplomacy only solution 02:09 Israel delays taking stance on independent Kosovo 07:49 Temperatures to drop sharply as severe storm hits Israel 09:26 Minister Majadele stable after surgery to stop bleeding on his brain 06:12 Interior Min. mulls 'absorption grant' for T.A.'s African refugees 05:17 PM gave Winograd panel details of post-war decision-making 08:50 Gov't to fund fortification of 3,600 homes near Gaza, instead of 8,000 08:52 Knesset passes draft bill outlawing membership in racist organizations 06:35 Expert: Suspect's footprints found on pants of murdered Golan girl 17:35 Egypt: No Gaza border deal without consent of Israel, PA Previous Editions Select Day 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb

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