Association of Jewish Iranian Intellectuals

Association of Jewish Iranian Intellectuals (AJII) (also known as the Society of Iranian *Kalimi* Intellectuals) was the most significant revolutionary organization among Iranian Jews; it was formed in 1979 with the aim of establishing a connection between revolutionaries and Jews who were dissatisfied with the government of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The organization remained active until 1989, at which point its activities were transferred to the Jewish Association (*Anjoman-e Kalimian*).

Background

Left-leaning Jews and those sympathetic to the Tudeh Party played a significant role among the opponents of the Pahlavi regime. Some of these individuals gravitated toward Marxist views while at university, where the prevailing atmosphere was heavily left-wing. For instance, Edna Sabet, a member of the Iranian Jewish community, joined the Organization of Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas while studying at Sharif University of Technology (then Aryamehr University) and engaged in anti-Shah guerrilla activities. She later joined the Organization of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class (Peykar); following the revolution, she was arrested and, after enduring severe torture, was executed.

Haroun Yashayaei and Aziz Daneshrad two prominent activists within the Iranian Jewish community and members of the Tudeh Party—had been imprisoned multiple times for their anti-Pahlavi activities. While incarcerated, they established strong ties with Iranian revolutionaries, many of whom held favorable views toward leftist activism. Upon their release, they focused their efforts on rallying the Iranian Jewish community to support the 1979 Revolution, believing it could prove beneficial for the community. Individuals such as Yaghoub Barkhordar, Kamran Boroukhim, Houshang Melamed, Fereydoun Toubi, and Manouchehr Elyasi joined Yashayaei and Danesh-Rad in founding the Association of Intellectuals.

The activities of these individuals fostered a positive outlook toward the 1979 Revolution among a segment of the Jewish population, led to the sidelining of the community's previous leadership—who were largely Zionists and pro-Israel—and resulted in the publication of the weekly *Tammuz*.

In fact, the Society of Intellectuals emerged from an internal revolution within Iran’s Jewish community—led by radical, anti-monarchist, and anti-Zionist Jewish youth—against the old leadership, which was predominantly wealthy and Zionist.

Haroun Yashyaei was a key person connecting left leaning Iranian jews with the revolutionaries, He became head of the jewish community after the revolution.

From the outset, the Society of Jewish Intellectuals distanced itself from Zionism and was fiercely critical of Israel. Large placards supporting the anti-Shah Muslim Iranians were displayed on buildings associated with the organization. The group succeeded in dispelling the pessimistic predictions that the Jewish community would face persecution and slaughter by revolutionaries due to its support for the Shah and Israel; instead, it established Iran’s Jews as key supporters of the 1979 Revolution. The Society’s activities within the Jewish community were diverse; for instance, it organized a meeting in Tehran with Hani al-Hassan, a leader of the Fatah movement. Initially, the majority of Iran’s Jewish community did not view the organization favorably. By inviting non-Jewish revolutionaries to Jewish gatherings, the organization sought to improve the community's perception of the revolutionaries, who were ostensibly staunchly anti-Israel.

The Society of Jewish Intellectuals became one of the most significant proponents of the 1979 Revolution. Houshang Malamed wrote of the group: "The Society of Jewish Intellectuals became the most important Jewish organization during the revolution. Its core members were leftist intellectuals and students, and it was later joined by many others."

The weekly publication *Tammuz* played a pivotal role in fostering ties between the revolutionaries and Iran’s Jewish community. *Tammuz* sought to draw parallels between Jewish religious holidays and the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, with numerous articles comparing the fall of the monarchy to the liberation of the Jews from Egypt. During the months of Shahrivar, Azar, and Dey 1357 (late 1978 to early 1979), numerous meetings took place between Ayatollah Taleghani and Iran’s Jewish community. During the meeting in Dey 1357, Ayatollah Taleghani contacted Ayatollah Khomeini in Paris to discuss those members of the Jewish community who supported the revolution and had previously been imprisoned alongside him. Ayatollah Khomeini requested a written statement from these individuals, which resulted in the following declaration issued by the community's intellectuals on 4 Dey 1357 (December 25, 1978):

In step with the genuine movement of the Iranian nation, intellectuals from Iran’s Jewish community—through their active participation in this national movement—once again declare their solidarity with the Iranian people. Since agents of discord and colonialism—including Zionists—seek to prolong colonial domination over the world's oppressed nations by sowing division within the ranks of the Iranian people, and have recently attempted through extensive propaganda to distort the nature of Iran’s national movement by portraying it as reactionary, Jewish intellectuals—firmly believing in the authenticity of the Iranian people's struggle and the significance of the clergy's role therein—visited the home of Ayatollah Taleghani on Saturday, December 23, 1978 (Dey 2, 1357). There, they once again affirmed their solidarity with the Iranian nation and emphasized that the Jewish community of Iran has stood, and will continue to stand, alongside the Iranian people throughout every stage of the struggle. These Jewish intellectuals align themselves with the Iranian nation's cause. Ayatollah Taleghani stated that religious minorities are our fellow countrymen and encouraged Iran’s Jews to participate actively in the national struggle and to cooperate with their fellow Iranians.

Following the victory of the Revolution, the "Society of Jewish Intellectuals" met with Ayatollah Khomeini on May 14, 1979 (Ordibehesht 24, 1358). Participants in this meeting included Yashayaei, Danesh-Rad, and Boroukhim, alongside three Jewish clerics: Avriel Davoudi, Yedidiah Shofet, and Abdollah Zargarian. During the meeting, Ayatollah Khomeini expressed his support for Iran's Jewish community.

The Society’s charter reflects a blend—at times contradictory—of Iranian and Jewish identities, interweaving various perspectives on nationalism, Islam, and Judaism. Article 4 stipulated that the rights of the Iranian people—both Muslim and Jewish—must be upheld within the context of the Revolution's victories. Article 5 stated that while Iranian Jews should rise up against imperialism, tyranny, and Zionism, they must simultaneously combat racism and antisemitism.

Amnon Netzer described this group of Iranian Jews as "radical intellectuals"—characterized as "left-wing and anti-Zionist"—who supplanted the community's traditional leadership. As the majority of Zionist Jews emigrated from Iran during Ayatollah Khomeini’s rule and the subsequent period, this group of left-wing Jews gained greater influence within the community and took the place of its former leaders.

Ultimately, the activities of the "Society of Jewish Intellectuals of Iran" effectively ceased in 1989 (1368); its members joined the "Jewish Association" (Anjoman-e Kalimian), and a significant portion of the Tehran Jewish Association's membership consisted of former members of the Society of Intellectuals. Since then, the Jewish Association has operated as the central body for Iran's Jewish community—both legally and religiously—representing all Jews in the country.

Related pages

• Jewish left
• Haroun Yashayaei
• History of the Jews in Iran

References

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