Difference between revisions of "Chabad Lubavitch of Iran"
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| − | {{short description|Chabad-Lubavitch relations with Iran and Iranian Jews in the context of the Zionist entity}} | + | {{short description|'''Chabad-Lubavitch relations with Iran and Iranian Jews in the context of the Zionist entity'''}} |
{{Infobox organization | {{Infobox organization | ||
| − | | name = Chabad | + | | name = Chabad Lubavitch of Iran |
| type = Religious outreach and aid | | type = Religious outreach and aid | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Chabad-Lubavitch relations with Iran''' centre on humanitarian and religious aid to the remaining Iranian Jewish community (~8,000–10,000 people) while maintaining no official presence inside Iran. This contrasts with the [[Zionist entity]]’s historical ties to pre-1979 Iran and the post-revolution mass emigration of Iranian Jews to occupied Palestine. | + | '''Chabad-Lubavitch relations with Iran''' centre on humanitarian and religious aid to the remaining Iranian Jewish community (~8,000–10,000 people) while maintaining no official presence inside Iran. This contrasts with the [[Zionist entity]]’s historical ties to pre-1979 Iran and the post-revolution mass emigration of Iranian Jews to occupied Palestine. [[Chabad-Lubavitch movement|Chabad]]’s activities reportedly focus on non-political religious support rather than encouraging aliyah or Zionism.<ref name="ChabadExodus">Chabad.org, [https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4299265/jewish/Operation-Exodus-The-Chabad-Effort-That-Saved-1800-Iranian-Jewish-Children.htm Operation Exodus] ''Chabad.org'', 20 February 2019.</ref> |
== Operation Exodus (1978–1981) == | == Operation Exodus (1978–1981) == | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
| 2024–present || Continued discreet contacts for aid amid sanctions and regional tensions | | 2024–present || Continued discreet contacts for aid amid sanctions and regional tensions | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States == | ||
| + | The [[Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States]] (ARIS) was founded in 2019 by [[Mendy Chitrik]], Chabad's emissary in Istanbul. ''Israel Hayom'' said that "the majority" of its 45 rabbis "are associated with Chabad".<ref name="Forward2021" /><ref name="IsraelHayom2021" /> ARIS lists two rabbis in Iran as members:<ref name="ARIS" /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | ! Rabbi !! Role as listed by ARIS !! Chabad affiliation | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Yehuda Gerami]] (listed by ARIS as "Yehud Gerami") || Chief Rabbi of Iran || None known | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Eliyahu Saidiyan]] || Chief Rabbi of Isfahan || None known | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | :''Editor's note: No source was found describing either rabbi as a Chabad emissary. Both serve the indigenous Iranian Jewish community. Their ARIS membership links them to a mainly Chabad-led network, but does not by itself make them Chabad.'' | ||
== Context with Iranian Jews and the Zionist entity == | == Context with Iranian Jews and the Zionist entity == | ||
| Line 38: | Line 50: | ||
*[[Chabad-Lubavitch]] | *[[Chabad-Lubavitch]] | ||
*[[Operation Exodus]] | *[[Operation Exodus]] | ||
| + | *[[Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States]] | ||
*[[Iranian Jews]] | *[[Iranian Jews]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad-Lubavitch in West Asia]] | ||
| + | *[[Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Iran]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad of the United Arab Emirates]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad Lubavitch of Bahrain]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad Lubavitch of Saudi Arabia]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad Lubavitch of Turkey]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad Lubavitch of Jordan]] | ||
| + | *[[Chabad Lubavitch of Kuwait]] | ||
*[[Anna Kaplan]] - NY State Senator - among those taken from Iran. | *[[Anna Kaplan]] - NY State Senator - among those taken from Iran. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
| + | <references> | ||
| + | <ref name="ARIS">Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, [https://www.rabbisalliance.org/about/the-rabbis/ "ARIS Rabbis"], accessed 19 October 2026. Self-published; mainly Chabad-led.</ref> | ||
| + | <ref name="Forward2021">David Ian Klein, [https://forward.com/news/466368/matzah-in-beirut-or-a-seder-in-samarkand-these-rabbis-are-making-it-happen/ "Matzah in Beirut or a Seder in Samarkand? These rabbis are making it happen."], ''The Forward'', 22 March 2021. Press.</ref> | ||
| + | <ref name="IsraelHayom2021">JNS and ILH Staff, [https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/29/rabbinical-alliance-bolsters-jewish-community-in-islamic-states/ "Rabbinical alliance bolsters Jewish community in Islamic states"], ''Israel Hayom'', 29 October 2021. Press.</ref> | ||
| + | </references> | ||
[[Category:Chabad-Lubavitch]] | [[Category:Chabad-Lubavitch]] | ||
[[Category:Iranian Jews]] | [[Category:Iranian Jews]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:14, 20 October 2026
Chabad-Lubavitch relations with Iran and Iranian Jews in the context of the Zionist entity
| Chabad Lubavitch of Iran
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious outreach and aid |
Chabad-Lubavitch relations with Iran centre on humanitarian and religious aid to the remaining Iranian Jewish community (~8,000–10,000 people) while maintaining no official presence inside Iran. This contrasts with the Zionist entity’s historical ties to pre-1979 Iran and the post-revolution mass emigration of Iranian Jews to occupied Palestine. Chabad’s activities reportedly focus on non-political religious support rather than encouraging aliyah or Zionism.[1]
Operation Exodus (1978–1981)
During the Islamic Revolution, Chabad-Lubavitch launched Operation Exodus, 'rescuing' approximately 1,800 Iranian Jewish children. Spearheaded by Rabbi Yaakov Yehudah Hecht with the personal approval of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the children were flown to the United States, housed in Crown Heights, and educated in Chabad institutions. The operation was the largest single 'rescue' effort for Iranian Jews at the time.[1]
Post-revolution relations
No official Chabad house operates in Iran. The remaining Iranian Jewish community maintains discreet contact with Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries abroad for religious education, kosher aid, books and financial support. Iran’s Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami has visited Chabad events in the United States, including meetings with rabbinic leaders in Borough Park and at the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries in New York (2021).[2]
Timeline of key contacts
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1978–1981 | Operation Exodus: Purported 'rescue' of 1,800 Iranian Jewish children to the US |
| 1980s–2000s | Covert aid via emissaries abroad; no official presence in Iran |
| 2010s–2020s | Ongoing religious and educational support for Iranian Jews from overseas Chabad centres |
| 2021 | Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami visits Chabad events in New York and meets emissaries |
| 2024–present | Continued discreet contacts for aid amid sanctions and regional tensions |
Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States
The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS) was founded in 2019 by Mendy Chitrik, Chabad's emissary in Istanbul. Israel Hayom said that "the majority" of its 45 rabbis "are associated with Chabad".[3][4] ARIS lists two rabbis in Iran as members:[5]
| Rabbi | Role as listed by ARIS | Chabad affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Yehuda Gerami (listed by ARIS as "Yehud Gerami") | Chief Rabbi of Iran | None known |
| Eliyahu Saidiyan | Chief Rabbi of Isfahan | None known |
- Editor's note: No source was found describing either rabbi as a Chabad emissary. Both serve the indigenous Iranian Jewish community. Their ARIS membership links them to a mainly Chabad-led network, but does not by itself make them Chabad.
Context with Iranian Jews and the Zionist entity
Pre-1979, Iran under the Shah maintained close (though unofficial) ties with the Zionist entity, including military and economic cooperation. The large Iranian Jewish community (~80,000–100,000) enjoyed relative freedom. After the 1979 Revolution, official policy turned hostile to the Zionist entity, branding it the “Little Satan”. Most Iranian Jews emigrated to Israel or the US; those remaining (~10,000) are tolerated provided they do not publicly support Zionism.
See also
- Chabad-Lubavitch
- Operation Exodus
- Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States
- Iranian Jews
- Chabad-Lubavitch in West Asia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Iran
- Chabad of the United Arab Emirates
- Chabad Lubavitch of Bahrain
- Chabad Lubavitch of Saudi Arabia
- Chabad Lubavitch of Turkey
- Chabad Lubavitch of Jordan
- Chabad Lubavitch of Kuwait
- Anna Kaplan - NY State Senator - among those taken from Iran.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chabad.org, Operation Exodus Chabad.org, 20 February 2019.
- ↑ Chabadinfo.com, Iranian Chief Rabbi Visits Borough Park Chabadinfo, accessed 31 March 2026.
- ↑ David Ian Klein, "Matzah in Beirut or a Seder in Samarkand? These rabbis are making it happen.", The Forward, 22 March 2021. Press.
- ↑ JNS and ILH Staff, "Rabbinical alliance bolsters Jewish community in Islamic states", Israel Hayom, 29 October 2021. Press.
- ↑ Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, "ARIS Rabbis", accessed 19 October 2026. Self-published; mainly Chabad-led.