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News Flash-UMJCA in Contract to buy Shaare Rachamim
Persian Jews given choice: Convert or die
This day in Jewish history / Persian Jews given choice: Convert or die
Thousands of Mashhad Jews did convert to Islam, in appearance at least, after nearly 40 were murdered by their neighbors; most simply took their Judaism underground.
By David B. Green | Mar.19, 2013 | 6:59 AM
March 19, 1839, is the date that the Jews of Mashhad, Persia, were given the choice of converting to Islam or dying, in an event that came to be known as the “Allahdad,” meaning “God’s Justice.”
The ultimatum was preceded by an attack by an angry crowd on the neighborhood where the city’s Jews resided, during which nearly 40 Mashhadi Jews were killed. Following that, the rest of their 2,400 or so brethren publicly accepted Islam – although most continued to practice their Judaism surreptitiously.
Jews had only resided in Mashhad — in the far northeastern corner of Persia, and today Iran’s second-largest city — since 1746, when Nader Shah, the empire’s king, moved his capital there and ordered 40 Jewish families to accompany him.
Mashhad was already a major object of Shi’ite pilgrimage and was known for the piety of its population, which did not welcome their new Jewish neighbors. Nonetheless, those Jews, who were confined to a ghetto-like neighborhood on the city’s outskirts, created a community, developed trading ties with other towns in the region and eventually with their immediate neighbors too, and grew to some 200 families.
The Allahdad began, as such events usually do, when rumors began to spread that the city’s Jews were mocking the Muslim religion, and on a holy day, no less.
The public appealed to their religious leaders, who turned to the town’s political leader, who granted the crowd permission to vent their wrath on the Jews. They invaded the Jewish quarter, attacked homes and businesses, burnt books and destroyed the synagogue. Thirty-six Jews lost their lives that day.
The physical violence was followed by the demand that the surviving Jews convert. The community capitulated to the demand and its members became “Jadid al-Islam” – new Muslims. They took on Arabic names, began to publicly embrace the rituals of Islam, including making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
At the same time, in a manner very similar to that of the crypto-Jews during the Spanish Inquisition, they also secretly continued to live as Jews. They gave their children second, Hebrew names, they fed the unkosher meat they openly bought to their animals, and carried out shehita (kosher slaughter) surreptitiously. They also established clandestine synagogues in their basements.
They reproduced by hand the sacred Hebrew books that had been destroyed during the Allahdad, and used them to continue teaching their children Torah. They even found a way to avoid having their children intermarry with non-Jews, by marrying them off to other members of the community while they were still very young, age 9 or 10, so that when inquiries came from the city’s Muslims, they could say their children were already spoken for.
Only after the ascent of Reza Pahlavi, the father of the last shah, to power, in 1925, and the start of a period of social liberalization, which included freedom of religion, did the crypto-Jews who still lived in Mashhad return to openly practicing their faith. That period lasted until 1946, when anti-Jewish riots erupted in Mashhad yet again. At that point, the city’s Jews began to leave en masse. They went either to Tehran, where they constituted a distinct community, served by 10 “Mashhadi” synagogues, or left Iran altogether.
Today, all the descendants of the Jews of in Mashhad are outside their native land. Most can be found in Israel, and there’s a large contingent in New York – in Kew Gardens, Queens, and in Great Neck.
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
Our Sunday Morning Parasha Class is on for this week (March 24). We will be studying about the Holiday of Pesach!
We will be serving a special breakfast with Kosher for Passover cakes, cookies, and drinks. Breakfast will be served at 9:45 am, the class is 10 am – 11 am, at 54 Steamboat Road.
This class is for the refuah shelema of Nissan Chai ben Rachel and Ruchama Sarah Miriam bat Tamar.
For more information or to sponsor, contact Rabbi Sabzevari (adamsabzevari@gmail.com) or Ben Nabavian (benjamin.nabavian@gmail.com).
Sincerely yours,
Adam Sabzevari
Passover Rice Information-2013
“BH”
“Passover Rice Information”
2013
As per phone conversations with rice importers and receipt of confirmation letters from them, Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Haim has confirmed that the following brands of rice are 100% pure, are not enriched, and have no additives or preservatives. Therefore, they are suitable for use on Passover.
The brands are as follows:
- LALQUILA
- SHAHZADEH
- PARI
- ROYAL
- ZEBRA
- DEER
- TILDA
- QILLA
- INDIAN STAR BASMATI
- ROYAL BROWN
Even though these rices are pure, Jewish Law requires them to be cleaned at least 3 times and washed thoroughly before use for Passover.
Please avoid any enriched rice.
Chag Kasher Ve Sameach
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari-cancelled this week
NO CLASS – Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
Our Sunday Morning Parasha Class is CANCELLED for this week (March 17).
For more information or to sponsor, contact Rabbi Sabzevari (adamsabzevari@gmail.com) or Ben Nabavian (benjamin.nabavian@gmail.com).
Welcome to the new mashadi.org
Welcome to the new official Mashadi.org and the associated Mashadi News email.
The new web site has been designed to incorporate all entities, committees and activities that are under the UMJCA system. It also allows each entity or committee to be able to update their web pages directly. The Mashadi News email has been designed for maximum clarity and an easy user interface while bringing major news, times of Shabbat and other special announcements.
The web site and the News email feature allow UMJCA to provide its membership with the latest information and news in a timely fashion.
We are looking for motivated individuals with interest and knowledge of Publishing and Web to help with the site . A monetary compensation may also be available , as well as UMJCA recognition letter. Interested individuals , please email resume to : umjcaweb@googlegroups.com
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
Our Sunday Morning Parasha Class is on for this week (March 10). We will be studying Parashat Vayikra!
A special thanks to this week’s sponsor for breakfast, Mr. Justin Hakimian, for iluy neshama of his late father, Ephraim ben Shemuel.
Breakfast will be served at 9:45 am, the class is 10 am – 11 am, at 54 Steamboat Road.
This class is for the refuah shelema of Nissan ben Rachel and Ruchama Sarah Miriam bat Tamar.
For more information or to sponsor, contact Rabbi Sabzevari (adamsabzevari@gmail.com) or Ben Nabavian (benjamin.nabavian@gmail.com).
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
Our Sunday Morning Parasha Class is on for this week (March 3). We will be studying Parashat Vayakhel/Pekudei!
A special thanks to this week’s sponsor for breakfast, Mr. Justin Hakimian, for iluy neshama of his late father, Ephraim ben Shemuel.
Breakfast will be served at 9:45 am, the class is 10 am – 11 am, at 54 Steamboat Road.
This class is for the refuah shelema of Nissan ben Rachel and Sarah Miriam bat Tamar.
For more information or to sponsor, contact Rabbi Sabzevari (adamsabzevari@gmail.com) or Ben Nabavian (benjamin.nabavian@gmail.com).
Fegs & Mashadis-Economics Challenges
Helping Mashadi Families Navigate and Cope with Economic Challenges
Partners in Caring staff will assist individuals and families coping with a variety of crises by providing them with concrete assistance that helps them to improve their functioning , move out of crisis, and regain stability.
Clients will be assisted with:
▪ Entitlement benefits counseling
▪ Access to concrete assistance , including Medicaid and food stamps
▪ Linkages to services within
F▪E▪G▪S and other community based agencies.
Tuesday March 5, 2013 ; 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mashadi Jewish Center
54 Steamboat Road
Great Neck, NY 11024
To schedule and appointment, please contact: Hillary Lagnado, LCSW at 516.496.7550 ext. 267
hlagnado@fegs.org
Click to access Mashadi-Case-Management-economics.pdf
Shabbat in Hong Kong
Sunday Morning with Rabbi Adam(&Breakfast)
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
On Sunday morning, we will be studying the weekly parasha. Breakfast will be served at 9:45 am, the class is 10 am – 11 am, at 54 Steamboat Road. For more information or to sponsor, contact Rabbi Sabzevari (adamsabzevari@gmail.com) or Ben Nabavian (benjamin.nabavian@gmail.com).
Choices and Consequences at 130 -8:30pm
District Attorney Kathleen Rice is bringing the message about driving safety to Nassau County’s High Schools. The Choices and Consequences program is an interactive high school presentation designed to combat drunk, drugged and reckless driving. The District Attorney’s goal is to reduce injuries and deaths in this most vulnerable age group. Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
The 90 minute program is based on a “reality TV” model that relies on real cases, real evidence and real people from cases to break through natural teenage invincibility to teach life-saving lessons. The program is divided into 3 segments: information, a skit and climaxing with defendant and/or victim speakers.
Participants: 16 & up. All parents are welcome
Day: Thursday February 28th Time: 8:30 p.m – 9:00 p.m
Shalom Week Feb 23rd
Special Megillah Reading
There will be a special Megillah reading at the home of Mr.and Mrs.Danny Zar at 6b Blue Sea Lane ( off East Shore Rd) on Saturday Feb 23rd at 7pm and on Sunday Feb 24th at 7.30 am.
Everyone is invited to attend.
Tucson Show Kavods
Anyone who made a kavod at the recent Tuscon show and has not yet paid, please contact Johnny Kordvani (516 446 0785) to arrange for payment.
Thank you for your support.
An important announcement from the Central Board
February 2013
Dear Community Members,
The Central Board has reached a consensus to reach out to individuals, in particular those with a loan or a mortgage, and companies hiring traveling sales people to consider purchasing Term Life Insurance. We are aware that a lot of us may already have life insurance coverage. Our request applies to individuals and specifically to corporations with traveling sales people lacking such coverage for their employees.
It is possible to purchase term policies at very affordable rates which can be locked for an extended period of time. As an example, a One Million dollar policy for an individual 30 to 40 years old, non-smoker, costs approximately $500-700 annually. This rate can be locked for 20 years with no increase. Acquiring such policies can be a family life saver in emergencies.
Sincerely,
UMJCA
Central Board
December 2012
Dear Community Members,
The Central Board has reached a consensus to reach out to individuals, in particular those with a loan or a mortgage, and companies hiring traveling sales people to consider purchasing Term Life Insurance. We are aware that a lot of us may already have life insurance coverage. Our request applies to individuals and specifically to corporations with traveling sales people lacking such coverage for their employees.
It is possible to purchase term policies at very affordable rates which can be locked for an extended period of time. As an example, a One Million dollar policy for an individual 30 to 40 years old, non-smoker, costs approximately $500-700 annually. This rate can be locked for 20 years with no increase. Acquiring such policies can be a family life saver in emergencies.
Sincerely,
UMJCA
Central Board
Sunday Morning with Rabbi Adam
Sunday Morning Parasha Class with Rabbi Adam Sabzevari (& Breakfast)!
Our Sunday Morning Parasha Class is on for this week (Feb. 17). We will be studying Parashat Tetzaveh and Megillat Esther!
A special thanks to this week’s sponsor for breakfast, Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Enayatian, in honor of their children!
Breakfast will be served at 9:45 am, the class is 10 am – 11 am, at 54 Steamboat Road.
This class is for the refuah shelema of Nissan ben Rachel.
For more information or to sponsor, contact Rabbi Sabzevari (adamsabzevari@gmail.com) or Ben Nabavian (benjamin.nabavian@gmail.com).
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