Thirty years have passed since more than 30,000 Iranian Jewish immigrants from Iran fled to America during the Islamic Revolution. As this community struggled for citizenship, they were also exceedingly successful in achieving the ever-admired “American Dream.†These Iranian immigrants have not only become affluent, they have thrived in their educational pursuits.
The community has also made significant cultural and philanthropic contributions to Jewish causes. However, the transition from decades of life under authoritarian rule and a new fear of acculturation have hindered the community’s expansion into American civic and Jewish communal life.
In recognition of this momentous time in the community’s history, a group of three-dozen Iranian Jewish young professionals founded “30 YEARS AFTER” in November 2007 with three objectives in mind: (1) to educate and unite the Iranian American Jewish community on important political issues; (2) to promote the participation of Iranian Jews in American civic life; and (3) to enhance the involvement and integration of Iranian Jews in the greater American Jewish community.
Their most recent event, held on June 25, provided an opportunity for community members to become acquainted with local elected officials, register to vote and meet others who are involved in American civic affairs.
Among other programs and events, 30 Years After will host a 1,200 person civic action on September 14 at the Beverly Hilton. The conference will address important political issues related to the United States, Israel, and Iran and feature leading politicians, thinkers, activists and rabbis, including Congressmen Henry Waxman, Brad Sherman and Mel Levine; Rabbis Marvin Hier, David Wolpe, David Shofet, Daniel Bouskila and Abraham Cooper; Professors David Menashri (Tel Aviv University) and Nahid Pirnazar (UCLA) as well as Nuddke East specialist and executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein, former Beverly Hills mayor Hon. Jimmy Delshad, radio talk show host Dennis Prager, and Jewish activist and psychologist Dr. Morgan Hakimi.
Visit http://www.30yearsafter.org/conference-registration.asp to register for the conference or to become a member of the organization or to join over forty corporate and organizational sponsors in supporting 30 Years After visit www.30yearsafter.org
