Moussa Kermanian
Born1922
Died1980 (aged 57–58)
Los Angeles, USA
Occupations
  • Lawyer
  • Businesspeople
  • Journalist

Moussa Kermanian (1922–1980) was one of the leading Iranian Jewish community leaders, a lawyer, businessman and journalist. He was the secretary of the Jewish Community of Iran. He is known for his attempts to save his fellow Iranian Jews following the regime change in the country in 1979.

Biography

Kermanian was born in 1922.[1] In 1943 he established and headed a youth club called Kanun-e Javanan-e Iran (Persian: Iranian Youth Club).[2] He received a degree in law.[3]

He was one of the early Iranian Jews who advocated the rights of the group during the Pahlavi regime.[1] He served as the secretary of the Jewish Community of Iran.[4] He published various articles about the history and status of Jews in Iran[5] and launched a newspaper, Alam-i Yahud (Persian: The Jewish World), in Iran.[6] Kermanian left Iran before 1979 and started his real estate company in Los Angeles which he managed with his son, Sam.[1]

Kermanian organized a meeting with American President Jimmy Carter at the White House in 1980 and headed the delegation composed of the Iranian Jews who left Iran because of the negative conditions as a result of the religious government established in 1979.[7] Kermanian was assisted by his son, Sam, in this activity.[7] This meeting made it possible for the Iranian Jews to settle in the USA.[8]

Kermanian died of a heart attack in 1980.[1] As of 2001 his son, Sam, was the president of the Iranian-American Jewish Federation based in West Hollywood, California.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Michael Aushenker (14 June 2001). "Favorite Son". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Nahid Pirnazar (Spring–Summer 2020). "Zionism in Iran: A Historical Perspective, 1917–79". Rahavard (130/131): 88.
  3. ↑ Stuart E. Eizenstat (2018). President Carter: The White House Years. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 792. ISBN 978-1-250-10457-1.
  4. ↑ Alessandra Cecolin (2015). Iranian Jews in Israel: Between Persian Cultural Identity and Israeli Nationalism. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-85773-841-7.
  5. ↑ Moussa Kermanian (Autumn 2001). "Iranian Jewry Celebrates Cyrus". The Scribe. No. 74. Retrieved 28 January 2023. Originally published in From World Jewry: The Review of the World Jewish Congress November 1971
  6. ↑ Daniella Leah Farah (2021). Forming Iranian Jewish Identities: Education, National Belonging, the Jewish Press, and Integration, 1945-1981 (PhD thesis). Stanford University. p. 1. ISBN 9798494442369. ProQuest 2605234741.
  7. 1 2 Nurit Greenger (9 May 2018). "Iran's Jewish exodus, as branded by Stu Eizenstat". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Karmel Melamed. "Iranian Jews mourn passing of scientific giant Dr. Iraj Lalezari". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
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