Valley Beth Shalom: Iranian-Jewish Population
VBS’s members are 80% Ashkenazi. The remaining 20% consist of 5% Israelis and 15% Iranian Jews. There are about 200 member families at VBS who are of Iranian-Jewish descent. Iranian Jews started joining the VBS congregation in the late 70’s. Shortly before the Islamic Revolution, parents in Iran started sending their college-age children to Southern California for a better education. Most of the Iranian members of VBS arrived after the revolution, between 1979 and 1989.
Since 1990, there has been a steady trickle of new Iranian members at VBS. These new members can be split into three categories: 1) New immigrants from Iran, 2) Iranian Jews from Israel and the East Coast, and 3) Iranian Jews from Los Angeles who have moved to the Valley in pursuit of more affordable living conditions.
According to Rabbi Feinstein, the Persian Jewish congregants of VBS are very active in the synagogue--disproportionately so given their relatively small numbers. The Iranian Jewish enrollment at the VBS day school is around 20%.
Since 1990, there has been a steady trickle of new Iranian members at VBS. These new members can be split into three categories: 1) New immigrants from Iran, 2) Iranian Jews from Israel and the East Coast, and 3) Iranian Jews from Los Angeles who have moved to the Valley in pursuit of more affordable living conditions.
According to Rabbi Feinstein, the Persian Jewish congregants of VBS are very active in the synagogue--disproportionately so given their relatively small numbers. The Iranian Jewish enrollment at the VBS day school is around 20%.
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