The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic deterioration in the relationship between Iran and Israel. These political tensions have made life in Iran increasingly uncomfortable for the thousands of Persian Jews who call Iran their home. Jewish communities in Iran suffer from limitations on their civil rights and have reported feeling more in danger in their own hometowns. This project will explore how Persian Jews view their relationship with Israel, and how Jewish communities practice their religion in Iran despite several efforts by the government to stunt the religion. It will also examine how the actions of the Iranian government square with teachings of religious freedom in Islam.
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Dallalfar, Arlene. "Synagogues and Sacred Rituals in Tehran: An Ethnographic Analysis of Judeo-Persian Identities and Spaces." In Synagogues in the Islamic World: Architecture, Design, and Identity, edited by Mohammad Gharipour, 185–204. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2017.
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Lily McGrail (C‘21) is an undergraduate student in the College majoring in government with minors in global medieval studies and religion, ethics, and world affairs. She is interested in the role of religious leaders in peacebuilding efforts in the wake of religiously driven conflicts. Lily is originally from McLean, Virginia, and will attend the University of Cambridge to study for an M.Phil. in theology, religion, and philosophy of religion specializing in religion and conflict.
