JL;DR

Iran’s Jewish community, one of the oldest continuous Jewish presences in the Middle East, exemplifies resilience in the face of political shifts and societal changes. After originating in ancient Persia, Persian Jews have sustained their traditions despite periods of persecution and significant emigration, especially after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. With nearly 10,000 Jews still residing in Iran, they maintain synagogues, kosher restaurants, and schools despite living under a regime often perceived as adversarial. Their rich history includes periods of prosperity and influence, forged under rulers such as Cyrus the Great and during the Golden Age before the rise of Khomeini. Today, Persian Jewish exiles also have significant communities in Israel and the USA.