March 18, 2008 | 11:20 am
Today will mark the final day for Iranian Jewish City Council member of Beverly Hills, Jimmy Delshad in his post as mayor of the city. In March 2007 he made history by narrowly winning re-election to the City Council and became the first Iranian American Jew to serve as mayor of a city in America. The post of mayor rotates among the Council members every year according to their seniority on the council.
There have been many articles written about Delshad in Jewish and secular publications, but they have failed to identify the true historical significance of his role in local government. His position on the Council is important to Iranian Jewry because for centuries Jews in Iran were prohibited from participating politics or elections. Here you have a representative of that same community (which a few generations ago lived in ghettos) now taking part in the incredible democracy of America! No doubt Delshad made splash during his time as mayor by introducing some unique measures dealing with 21st century technology being incorporated in city services as well as an Iran divestment measure. He has in many ways inspired the younger generation of Iranian Jews in Southern California serve in the public sector.
On March 10th he met with his Iranian Jewish supporters at Beverly Hills City Hall to thank them for their backing during his term as mayor and to recite a prayer of thanksgiving. Below are some photos of that gathering. Afterwards I had a chance to chat with Delshad about his activities and efforts as mayor during the last year.
Our blog’s exclusive podcast interview with former Mayor Delshad can be heard here.
(Delshad holding hands with supporters and praying in his office, photo by Karmel Melamed)
(left to right; Iranian Jewish businessman Ebrahim Simhaee, Delshad, Iranian Jewish businessman and philanthropist Parviz Nazarian, photo by Karmel Melamed)
(left to right; Magbit organization board members Doran Adhami and Gina Rofeem)
Posted by Karmel Melamed in Multimedia | 0 Comments — Leave your comment
We welcome your feedback.
Your information will not be shared or sold without your consent. Get all the details.
2008 election 2008 elections amnon netzer anti-semitism by muslims bahais chadorchi domestic violence taboo elias eshaghian gaza gina nahai hezbollah homeless iran iran divestment bill iran expert iranian government propoganda iranian jewish podcast iranian jews iranian jews podcast iranian mullahs iranian muslims iranian revolution iranian studies israel israel independence day jewish conspiracy joel anderson john mccain karmel melamed mccain nateq-nouri nessah synagogue nouriel cohan obama persian jews purim super tuesday thirty years after violence yom ha'atzmaut
Advertisement
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
Advertisements
With talk of a new Cold War in the offing following Russia's recent military successes in Georgia, Israel is worried Russia might reassess this policy and use the sale of new weaponry to Syria -- or the threat of it -- to strengthen Russia's hand vis-à-vis Israel's primary
I can vividly remember the first time I visited the Museum of Tolerance, in seventh grade. Not personally knowing anyone who had survived the Holocaust, I had been shielded from the grisly details of World War II.
Parshat Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) One of the biggest misnomers in the Jewish vocabulary is the translation of tzedakah as "charity." This mistranslation has gone on for so long in the American Jewish community that it's a hard habit to break.
Since 1978, Iranian Jews have injected into a stable, maybe even staid Jewish community talent, industry, a profound connection to their Jewish roots and a desire to have a positive political and social impact on the city. They have energized a Jewish community that could always