Quantcast

Search our Archives!


Advertisement


Iranian American Jews

May 17, 2010 | 2:11 pm RSS

Webcast: Shamsian breaking taboos in L.A.’s Iranian Jewish community

Posted by Karmel Melamed

During the course of the last 20 years, Dr. Iraj Shamsian has been one Los Angeles’ most outspoken Iranian American psychologists and experts in drug addiction. Originally hailing from the Iranian Jewish community, Shamsian was once an addict himself at one time living on skid row in Downtown L.A. before finding sobriety and helping others. His work has been focused on helping Iranian Americans of various religions in the area who have either been struggling with drugs and alcohol directly or with family members of addicts.

The topic of alcohol and drug abuse is one that has traditionally been taboo for Iranian Americans and especially Iranian Jews to discuss because of the shame associated with both diseases. However, Shamsian though his private practice, his appearances on local Persian language radio and his own satellite TV program “Ayenay” have taken on these taboos and openly discussed them. Our webcast program sat down with Shamsian earlier this month before he spoke about drug and alcohol addiction at the Beverly Hills-based Iranian “Nessah Synagogue” in Beverly Hills. Here is our interview with him….


My 2006 article on Iranian Jewish drug addition issues can be found here.

 


The Jewish Journal believes that great community depends on great conversation. So, jewishjournal.com provides a forum for insightful voices across the political and religious spectrum. Bloggers are not employees of The Jewish Journal, and their opinions are their own. Our entire blog policy is here. Please alert us to any violations of our policy by clicking here. (editor@jewishjournal.com). If you'd like to join our blogging community, email us. (webmaster@jewishjournal.com).


About this Blog

Blog Home
About the Blogger(s)
Contact

RSS


Blog Archive






Newspaper

Serving a community of 600,000, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles is the largest Jewish weekly outside New York City. Our award-winning paper reaches over 150,000 educated, involved and affluent readers each week. Subscribe here.

© Copyright 2013 Tribe Media Corp.
All rights reserved. JewishJournal.com is hosted by Nexcess.net. Homepage design by Koret Communications.
Widgets by Mijits. Site construction by Hop Studios.

counter fake hit page