“Conversion or Death”.
This was the choice given to the Jews of Mashhad, Iran in 1839.
Jews were forced to convert to Islam during an event called the Allahdad (“Divine Justice” in Farsi).
A quick thread on this violent episode in Persian Jewry history:
#PersianJews
This was the choice given to the Jews of Mashhad, Iran in 1839.
Jews were forced to convert to Islam during an event called the Allahdad (“Divine Justice” in Farsi).
A quick thread on this violent episode in Persian Jewry history:
#PersianJews
Angry mobs launched attacks against the Jews of Mashhad: 40 Jews were killed, synagogues were looted and Torah scrolls were torn off.
Threatened with swords, the 2400 Jews of the city had no other choice but to convert to Islam in order to save their lives and their properties.
Threatened with swords, the 2400 Jews of the city had no other choice but to convert to Islam in order to save their lives and their properties.
They adopted muslim names, mimicked muslim mannerisms but kept Judaism in private.
They set clandestine synagogues in their basements and kept studying the Torah. They did everything they could to keep their traditions without raising suspicion, thus becoming crypto-Jews.
They set clandestine synagogues in their basements and kept studying the Torah. They did everything they could to keep their traditions without raising suspicion, thus becoming crypto-Jews.
In the years 1920, Reza Shah Pahlavi eventually allowed Jews of Mashhad to freely practice their religion and traditions.
However, after 80 years of humiliation, most Mashhadi Jews chose to leave their former city and move to Teheran or to the USSR or to Mandatory Palestine..
However, after 80 years of humiliation, most Mashhadi Jews chose to leave their former city and move to Teheran or to the USSR or to Mandatory Palestine..
