40 Iranian Jews Make Exodus from Iran, Arrive in Israel to Escape Dangers

FoxNews ^ | December 25, 2007

[nuconvert]

40 Iranian Jews Make Exodus from Iran, Arrive in Israel to Escape Dangers

December 25, 2007

TEL AVIV, Israel — Greeted by joyous relatives and a crowd of Israeli TV reporters, about 40 Iranian Jews landed in Israel Tuesday, leaving behind their lives in an increasingly bellicose Islamic regime for new homes in the Jewish state.

The new immigrants took a covert route, facilitated by the Israeli government and backed with funding from American evangelical Christians who see their efforts as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Relatives screamed in delight and threw candy at the newcomers as they emerged into the airport reception hall after a long bureaucratic procedure.

Two brothers, Yosef and Michael, said they were glad to be in Israel. They declined to give their family name in order to protect relatives.

"I feel so good," said Yosef, 16. "I just saw all of my family. You can't put that into words."

Michael, 15, said he told all his friends where he was going, and they wanted to come along. "I was scared in Iran as a Jew," he said. "I would never be able to wear a skullcap in the streets there." Others said they felt safe in Iran, discounting warnings that Jews could become targets.

The brothers arrived with their parents and a sister and were greeted by their grandparents, whom they had not seen since the grandparents left for Israel six years ago.

The sensitivity of the operation was in evidence throughout. No details about their route of exit from Iran were given, but it was assumed they came through a third country.

"I'm in heaven," gushed Avraham Dayan, 63, waiting for his son, daughter-in-law and grandson. He said he had not seen his 38-year-old son in 11 years,

[camerakid400]

Thanks for posting.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Hmmmmmm? Could the word be getting out? Leave before it starts?

[the Real fifi]

No. I doubt that. They have been abused for so long and couldn’t get out earlier. I suspect they simply reversed the route Jews took from Iraq in the late 40’s—when they walked from Basra to Iran. They couldn’t do thr reverse—Iran to Basra to Israel until now because iraq is now more settled.

[B4Ranch]

>>”The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a charity that funnels millions of dollars in evangelical donations to Israel every year, is promising $10,000 to every Iranian Jew who comes to Israel, said the group’s director, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.<<

http://jewishrefugees.blogspot.com/2007/10/christian-group-offers-cash-to-iranian.html

[the Real fifi]

More—along the same line:

BAGHDAD (AP) - Thousands of Iraqi Christians made their way to church through checkpoints and streets lined with blast walls, many drawing hope from a lull in violence to celebrate Christmas Mass in numbers unthinkable a year ago.

I suspect these folks made their way back from Jordan and Syria.

[sofaman]

and what do we hear about this from Lard-Ass Murtha?

Crickets.....

[SJackson]

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[EGPWS]

"I was scared in Iran as a Jew,"...

Why? /s

40 Iranian Jews Make Exodus from Iran, Arrive in Israel to Escape Dangers...

Me thinks they are just stepping over the line of prudent thinking in thinking that Iran isn't a safe place for Israeli's. /s

Perhaps they have succumbed to the displaced political rhetoric that "Imanutjob" doesn't appreciate the Jewish faith and is endeavoring to achieve nuclear power for other than peaceful reasons./major sarcasm

[nyyankeefan]

40 Iranian Jews Make Exodus from Iran, Arrive in Israel to Escape Dangers...

smart people....the French Jews should do the same!!!!

[avacado]

This begs the question... If all their family was in Israel and they longed to get back to their family... then what the heck made them move to Iran in the first place?

I’m a little slow here.. so take it easy on me...

[hoosierboy]

they didnt move to Iran. I would guess the entire family once lived in Iran and a few of them got out when they could. I would venture to guess that the rest of the jewish community would love to get out of Iran, but cant because of fear of getting caught, or fear of retribution to their family.

I would assume this is similar to the cubans who would like to come here, but cant.

[avacado]

Thanks for the reply. That makes sense.

[txhurl]

this might interest you

[Stoat]

Sounds like a new "underground railroad" is developing, and none too soon.  From the article:

In 2000, Iranian authorities arrested 10 Jews, convicted them of spying for Israel and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from four to 13 years. An appeals court later reduced their sentences under international pressure and eventually freed them.

No comment was available Tuesday from the Iranian government or the Jewish lawmaker.

"Generally, Jews are free to practice Judaism inside Iran," said Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli analyst whose family emigrated from Iran in the 1980s. Iranian Jews, however, are increasingly concerned about the intensity of attacks on Israel by the Iranian press, which they view as bordering on anti-Semitism, he said.

 

[tbw2]

It is also possible that the grandparents migrated first, due to threats to the elder, and the rest of the family came after the children were old enough to travel.

[Clemenza]

I thought that all Iranian Jews eventually ended up in Beverly Hills. I guess a few do not. ;-)

[txhurl]

The Iranian Jews are worried about Iranian MSM becoming increasingly anti-semitic? What about their president promising to wipe Israel off the map?

[Stoat]

The Iranian Jews are worried about Iranian MSM becoming increasingly anti-semitic? What about their president promising to wipe Israel off the map?

Baffling.  I similarly roll my eyes when American Leftists yawn at Amadinejad's ranting and justify their lack of interest by suggesting "but Amadinejad doesn't hold the REAL power in Iran!"

Perhaps the American Leftists' deification of Government as "the ultimate source of all that is good and pure in the world" clouds their already addled judgment?

As far as the Iranian Jews are concerned they may indeed have great concerns about Amadinejad and their concerns may not be accurately reflected in the article, although this begs the question of "why haven't they ALL left Iran by this time?" Surely the lessons of WW2 remain clear. Perhaps they are unable to get proper exit paperwork?

As is so often the case, this article spawns more questions than it answers.