October 17, 2011 | 1:28 pm

My Brother Is Coming Home

Posted Michael Yadegaran

In the summer of 2006, rockets rained down on Israel from its northern and southern borders as its army engaged militants on both fronts in fierce battle. What made this period one of the most difficult in Israel’s recent collective memory was that for the first time in over a decade, an Israeli soldier was taken prisoner while still alive. If all goes according to plan, this harrowing saga will come to an end when, after five years of captivity, Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit returns home. 

Those unfamiliar with the plight of Shalit or the immensely popular movement advocating for his release from the hands of the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza have expressed shock and confusion that Israel’s government, one which is known to be tough on terror, has indeed negotiated with and given in to many of Hamas’ demands. 

Following the abduction of Shalit, Hamas made it clear that the release of the 24-year-old Israeli would stir up difficult moral dilemmas for Israel’s government and the Israeli public in general. According to reports, 1,027 Palestinians will be released to Hamas in exchange for Shalit. Many of those being released by Israel have been tried and convicted in Israeli courts for the most despicable of crimes. Dozens have “blood on their hands” and directly took part in the murder and maiming of countless Israeli civilians. 

The reasoning behind the release is not easily understandable to outsiders. The deal has struck many as irrational and presents threatening security and strategic liabilities to Israel; many dangerous individuals will once again be free to attack the Jewish state, and it provides an incentive for terror groups to kidnap additional Israelis. 

To fully understand why Israel’s security-oriented government approved the deal, you have to start by walking to the Prime Minister’s residence in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem. There, you will find a modest (but passionate) protest tent dedicated to the release of Shalit, where his parents have kept constant vigil for months. The campaign to release Shalit started, and now ends with his parents: Noam and Aviva. They have traveled the world, protested across the country, taken on the Israeli political elite, and put pressure on the most important figures in the Israeli and Jewish world to secure their son’s release. Their ordeal has resonated with the vast majority of Israelis, who each year send their teenage sons and daughters into compulsory military duty. They have carried out a sophisticated grassroots campaign with the help of Gilad’s friends, dubbed “Gilad’s Army.” The media-savvy movement for Shalit’s release has attained international coverage and sparked inspired social media endeavors. 

Not to be discounted in bringing about Shalit’s release is the Israel Defense Force’s code of ethics, particularly the Jewish tenet of Pidyon Shvuyim. The principle of Pidyon Shvuyim grants the redemption of captives utmost importance and gives a whole new meaning to the age-old mantra of never leaving a man behind. To bring a single soldier home at such a steep price displays an undying commitment to Israel’s young men and women by their leaders, fulfilling Pidyon Shvuyim in its most honorable form. 

Jews around the world have reacted with great happiness at the news of Shalit’s eventual release. Despite the painful price, there is a reason why untold millions stand by Noam and Aviva Shalit. Israel’s establishment in 1948 marked the founding of a modern safe haven for Jews which would serve as our collective home. Ever since, Israelis and Jews in the diaspora have felt a particularly staunch sense of mutual commitment and responsibility for one another. The release of Shalit has come to represent his return not only to the home of his parents in Mitzpe Hila, but to every home in Israel; it is as if the parents of Israel are embracing a son and the children of Israel are welcoming home their brother. 

Last July, I had the privilege to meet with Noam Shalit at the protest tent in Jerusalem. I spoke with a man who was tired, heartbroken, and understandably frustrated. His answers were short and calculated, displaying the experience of an elder statesman. Although I was one of hundreds to speak with him that day, the perseverance and conviction Noam Shalit spoke with was remarkable. I was touched by his impassioned plea to bring his youngest son home. As I left Jerusalem, I tied a ribbon to my backpack, put on a shirt emblazoned with Shalit’s likeness, and proudly carried his story home. 

Although we are thousands of miles apart and of different nationalities, regardless of the language barrier separating us, despite the lack of familial ties—I am eager to welcome my brother Gilad home. 

*Michael Yadegaran holds a B.A. in Near East Studies from the University of California, San Diego and serves as the Vice President of 30 Years After.

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October 13, 2011 | 10:45 am

30 Years After Applauds California’s Enforcement of Iran Divestment Legislation

Posted by Sam Yebri

30 Years After, an Iranian-American Jewish civic organization, applauds the State of California’s vigorous enforcement of the Iran Contracting Act of 2010, authored by Assemblymembers Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield.  Pursuant to the new law, California recently published a list of 63 corporations barred from bidding on lucrative state contracts due to their continued business with Iran.  According to the Financial Times, “California has changed the game on Iran divestment.”  Other states should follow suit immediately. 

In recent years, various cities and states across the nation have enacted legislation that tightens existing economic sanctions on Iran. These laws complement federal sanctions imposed with overwhelming bipartisan support from Congress and the White House.  The enactment and implementation of biting sanctions that force corporations to choose to do business either with Iran or with the United States and American municipalities has been a priority for 30 Years After and the Iranian-American Jewish community.  In May 2010, members of 30 Years After testified in Sacramento and in Washington D.C. and met with local, state, and national officials in support of legislation that cuts off the Islamic Republic’s access to capital. 

As new threats of terrorism from Iran come to light, we are steadfast in our belief that economic and diplomatic efforts are critical to punish Iran for its support of terrorism, end its brutal repression of its citizens, and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.  We applaud our local, state, and national leaders, including Assemblymembers Feuer and Blumenfield, for their bold leadership.

Founded in 2007, 30 Years After is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with chapters in Los Angeles and New York, whose mission is to promote the participation and leadership of Iranian-American Jews in American civic, political, and Jewish life.

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October 1, 2010 | 9:18 am

Iran Contracting Act of 2010 (AB 1650)

Posted by Sam Yebri

30 Years After applauds Governor Schwarzenegger for signing the Iran Contracting Act of 2010 (AB 1650) into law yesterday.  The law would preclude all public entities in California from renewing or entering into contracts with companies that have substantial business in Iran’s energy sector.  30 Years After and the Iranian American Jewish community commend the sponsors of the bill, Assembly Members Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield, for their leadership in sponsoring this critical piece of legislation, which will end taxpayers’ investment in companies supporting Iran’s dangerous pursuit of nuclear weapons.

IRAN DIVESTMENT LEGISLATION SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
AB 1650 Prohibits Companies with Significant Business in Iran’s Energy Sector
from Contracting with the State of California and Local Governments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 30, 2010
Feuer Contact:  Arianna Smith (916) 319-2042
Blumenfield Contact:  Colleen Beamish (916) 319-2040
                       
September 30, 2010 (Sacramento) – The Governor has signed Assembly Bill 1650 by Assembly members Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield, legislation prohibiting contracts of $1 million or more between the State of California (including its cities and counties) and companies with significant business in Iran’s energy sector.  The measure bolsters sanctions that the U.S. and the United Nations imposed on Iran earlier this year.

On July 1, the President signed into law bipartisan legislation to limit Iran’s ability to achieve nuclear weapons capability.  The law authorizes states and local governments to divest from companies with investments that support Iran’s energy sector and thus promote the efforts of Iran’s government to achieve a nuclear weapons capability.  With the Governor’s approval of AB 1650, California will be the first state in the nation to enact legislation under this law.

“Just yesterday, President Obama issued an executive order imposing sanctions on officials complicit in egregious human rights abuses in Iran.  Today the state of California joins this federal effort by sending a clear message to international companies: If you support the nuclear ambitions and human rights abuses of Iran’s terrorist regime, we won’t do business with you,” said Feuer. “As the first state to pass legislation under the federal law, California will lead the nation in encouraging companies to reject investments in Iran’s energy sector.”

“Any international company that participates in Iran’s economy is directly helping that country’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, and supporting Iran’s goal of annihilating its political enemies.  With the enactment of this legislation, the state of California is taking a strong stand against Iran’s tyrannical ambitions, and the companies that are complicit in its evil acts,” Blumenfield said.

AB 1650 precludes all public entities in the State of California from renewing or entering into contracts of $1 million or more with companies that have substantial business in Iran’s energy sector. The bill ensures that California’s tax dollars do not go to companies whose investments support Iran’s nuclear program, exploitation of terror and brutal suppression of internal dissent.  Companies with current interests in Iran’s energy sector which choose to cease these operations will be permitted to contract with the state and local governments in California.

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July 6, 2010 | 5:22 am

Reflections From The White House

Posted by Sam Yebri

REFLECTIONS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

July 5, 2010

By Sam Yebri

Thank goodness for frequent flyer miles.  When I received word that I was invited to the White House to witness President Obama sign the new Iran sanctions legislation, I scrambled to find a last-minute flight.  Fortunately, I found a red-eye and was off to the East Room.

The new law – the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act –provides the best hope that political and economic measures can peacefully persuade Iran to end its illicit nuclear program before it is too late.  It builds upon the recently passed United States Security Council Resolution, grants the President new authority, and strengthens a multilateral strategy to hold Iran accountable for failing to meet its international obligations.  The new law will strike at the heart of the Iranian government’s ability to fund and develop its nuclear weapons program by forcing corporations around the world, including banks and energy companies, to choose between access to the American economy or business with the Iranian regime.

On Thursday, the President walked into the East Room, where 125 people were waiting to witness history, including Members of Congress, Administration and State Department officials, Jewish community leaders, and members of the press.  And me.  It was surreal to be in the same room, alongside leaders like Congressman Howard Berman (who was the leading force behind the bill), Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Brad Sherman and Eric Cantor, Ambassadors Dennis Ross and Susan Rice, AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr, and Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Steven Weil.

Upon reflection, I was there wearing three hats, representing three different communities.

First, I was there on behalf of the Iranian-American community.  Iranian Americans have a unique perspective on this issue.  It is well known that the Iranian government is developing nuclear weapons, brutally suppressing its own people, and sponsoring terrorism from Iraq to Gaza.  For our community, Iran was also the home of our parents and ancestors, a land rich in history and culture, whose people yearn to be free.  Over the last three years, 30 Years After has inspired thousands of Iranian-American Jews to embrace our responsibilities as Americans – to become active in the civic life of Los Angeles, to vote, and to raise our voices on issues that matter to us.  That 30 Years After was invited to the White House for this historic and timely legislative event is a reflection of the progress that the Iranian-American Jewish community is making politically.

Second, I was also a proud representative of the Los Angeles pro-Israel community.  For the last decade, dating back to my days as a campus activist, leading organizations such as the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), America’s pro-Israel lobby, have brought to the attention of Congress, the White House, and the American people the perilous threat that a nuclear-armed Iran would have not only to Israel but to the United States and our Arab and European allies.  Los Angeles is a hotbed for pro-Israel fundraising with countless activists, political action committees (like the World Alliance for Israel), and political networks who use their political dollars to back congressional candidates who both support the U.S.-Israel relationship and understand the Iranian threat.  A week does not go by that an out-of-state Member of Congress or candidate does not visit Los Angeles to meet with these tireless activists.  I am proud to be a part of a growing network of young pro-Israel activists who understand that the U.S.-Israel relationship is worth fighting for and cannot be taken for granted.  If it were appropriate in the East Room, I would have given a “shout-out” to my friends and colleagues that our activism helped make this important law a reality.

Finally, I was there as a Democrat, with both strong progressive and pro-Israel values.  Through my involvement with the Progressive Jewish Alliance and Bet Tzedek Legal Services, I have helped support and champion social justice issues that reflect our Jewish values of protecting the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.  I have financially supported Democratic candidates who are leading the charge on health care, immigration, and climate change reform.  However, there is a growing perception in the Los Angeles Jewish community that muscular support for the State of Israel is inconsistent with Democratic and progressive politics.  The issue of Iran disproves that notion. 

Regardless of where you stand on Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem or the blockade of Gaza, Iran can and should be a priority for all progressives.  First, arguably the most cutting-edge human rights campaign and pro-democracy movement in generations has been taking place in the streets and “Tweets” of Tehran.  The Iranian people are courageously fighting against brutal suppression for the rights of women, gays, religious minorities, and a free press.  Second, for all of us who wish both to avoid a military confrontation over Iran’s nuclear weapons program and to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of Islamic extremists, we must advocate for every financial and diplomatic measure to pressure Iran to change its behavior.  The legislation imposes sanctions on individuals who commit serious human rights abuses and specifically exempts from our trade embargo technologies that allow the Iranian people to access information and communicate freely. In the spirit of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against apartheid South Africa and the human rights campaign on behalf of Soviet Jewry decades ago, the campaign for a free, democratic, and nuclear-free Iran must become our generation’s cause célèbre, a sustained, broad-based campaign for justice and dignity for the Iranian people and peace for the region. 

Fortunately, the legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress, with a vote of 99-0 in the Senate and 408-8-1 in the House.  Upon signing the bill into law, the President pledged to enforce the sanctions vigorously.  It is time to give credit to President Obama for enacting this law and support the Administration in enforcing it.  The Jewish community is broad and diverse, and, while nuanced debate is healthy and important, there are certain issues and certain moments in history that require unity.  In 2010, the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran fits that bill.  And regardless of how you identify yourself – progressive or conservative, pro-Israel or pro-peace, we are one community, on the same team, fighting for the same peaceful future.

Sam Yebri is an attorney and President of 30 Years After, an Iranian-American Jewish civic organization.  He is also an active AIPAC activist and Regional Councilmember of the Progressive Jewish Alliance.

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March 3, 2010 | 3:54 am

Our Turn

Posted by Sam Yebri

By: Michael Yadegaran

Growing up, I listened in utter disbelief as different members of my family recalled the hardships they endured as political refugees leaving Iran. Their accounts revisit the arduous and heartbreaking process of fleeing a country so deeply entwined with our history as Iranian Jews. It seemed to me that nothing I ever did could match the sacrifices my family, and thousands of others made, in order to plant the roots for myself and my fellow first-generation Iranian Jews in America. Our families instilled in us values that emanated from a traditionalist society, some of which serve as a collective annoyance to us youngsters, but in hindsight provided us with a head start on our competition. Arguably the most important advantage we have been given is our community’s emphasis on leadership and success.

The countless hours studying, the expectations of a degree from no less than UCLA, and the necessity to maintain a positive name for our families levy a burden on us college-aged members of the community. With the outburst of creativity and leadership from my generation in recent years, these societal pressures have fostered a thirst and ambition among young Iranian Jews that many of my American contemporaries lack.

One such bright spot has been the establishment and sustained impact of an organization that I am proud to be a part of: 30 Years After. Over the years, Iranian Jews have established themselves as philanthropists in America. However, our political activism rarely reached beyond the occasional campaign contribution. The establishment of 30 Years After brought to our community a highly organized and determined grassroots Iranian Jewish activist organization, unprecedented in our thirty years in America. A major factor that has lead to 30 Years After’s ability to galvanize the community and stir up interest in civic action has been the infusion of young blood into our community organizing work.

Well-established and longstanding Iranian Jewish organizations are, and continue to be, highly motivated and effective in the fields of immigrant support, philanthropy, and social services. The one sector that they have never successfully tackled is politics. Much of the previous generation, disenchanted with the state of political affairs and fearful of being politically active in Iran, did not have the desire or motivation to enter the political arena. Rather, they focused on professional success, leaving a lasting mark in real estate, business, law, and medicine.

With the entrance of an Iranian Jewish organization in the United States whose narrow focus is political participation and civic action on a community-wide level, we are in the midst of a movement that has the potential to extend its influence over local and national politics in the near future.  Members of 30 Years After’s Board of Directors, all under the age of thirty (myself included), have testified at local and state hearings in favor of state legislation that would divest California and Los Angeles pension funds from companies doing business in Iran’s energy sector.  30 Years After has built relationships with leading local, state, and national elected officials in an effort to give voice to the Iranian American Jewish community. Leading Jewish organizations consistently partner with us on events and programs. We have registered hundreds of new voters and educated our community on issues such as health care reform, energy independence, and Iran’s nuclear program.

Starting from mixers and transitioning to substantive, activism-based events, 30 Years After is striving to be the necessary vehicle to give Iranian American Jews the political clout we deserve. It is now up to our community to stand behind us and give meaning to the work we do.

Michael Yadegaran is a Junior at the University of California, San Diego pursuing a B.A. in History with an emphasis on Near East Studies. He serves on 30 Years After’s Board of Directors and is currently studying at Tel Aviv University in Ramat Aviv, Israel. To learn more about 30 Years After and the 2nd biennial Civic Action Conference on October 10th, 2010 please visit www.30YearsAfter.org.

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February 11, 2010 | 8:44 pm

February 11th is a date of reflection for all Iranians

Posted by Sam Yebri

February 11th is a date of reflection for all Iranians.  Today, thirty-one years ago, Iran underwent a revolution that would bring to power a radical regime and compel hundreds of thousands of Iranians to flee their homeland.

Iranian Jews who immigrated to the United States were the lucky ones.  Over the last three decades, Iranian-American Jews have embodied the modern-day American Dream.  We have rebuilt our lives and communities, graduated from elite American universities, founded successful businesses, and contributed philanthropically and culturally to American society.  February 11th reminds us how fortunate our community is to have left Iran when we did and how much of a blessing America is.

February 11th also magnifies the suffering and aspirations of the people of Iran today.  We see those Iranians standing up bravely in pursuit of a political voice and social change as the brothers and sisters we left behind.  Their fight must be ours; their redemption, our cause to be championed.  As the Iranian regime continues to suppress its citizens, 30 Years After challenges all Americans, especially Iranian Americans and Jewish Americans, to utilize the tools of freedom absent in Iran – democracy, free press, and free speech – to ensure the events broadcast on CNN today - February 11th - are not just another news story.

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January 31, 2010 | 11:25 am

Our Legacy Project

Posted by Sam Yebri

Our Legacy Project
Written by Eman Esmailzadeh and Sam Yebri.

This past December, 30 Years After launched “Our Legacy Project,” an unprecedented community-wide endeavor to commemorate and preserve Iranian Jewish history by connecting the future of the Jewish people with the legacy of their past.

Each of our families has compelling stories about the Jewish experience in Iran.  We have heard them at our Shabbat tables.  Some saw loved ones arrested and imprisoned as political prisoners.  Others fled across borders like nomads on the backs of donkeys or camels.  More escaped the Islamic Republic as political refugees in search of safety and opportunity.  Yet, these stories of sacrifice and courage that sustained our community have never been fully told in a public fashion. 

30 Years After strives to document these stories and memories before they disappear from our community’s collective memory.  Our Legacy Project is a unique venture to tell an entire Jewish community’s history through videotaped stories and interviews conducted, collected and organized by the community’s youth and young leaders. 
In just two months, the project has collected over 100 videos in categories ranging from the Exodus from Iran, Life During the Revolution, Relations with Non-Jews and Traditional Jewish Life in Iran. 

The stories have been captured in both English and Farsi in order to cross generational boundaries. Videos are available for all to view at www.OurLegacyProject.org. This YouTube-like website enables the community to easily upload brief (five minutes or less) videotaped stories directly on the website. Our first videotaping day at Nessah Synagogue in December 2009, at which dozens of individuals shared their stories, will be repeated at synagogues and senior centers throughout Los Angeles.  In the upcoming year, we also plan to expand the project to other major Iranian Jewish population centers, including New York and Israel. This will help the Project develop a comprehensive picture of Jewish Life in Iran.

One end goal of Our Legacy Project is to share our community’s most vivid and interesting stories as part of a video documentary that can be seen in homes across the globe. In the process, we hope all Iranian Jews – young and old – will develop a better understanding of the Jewish experience in Iran and an appreciation for how our Jewish values and identity sustained our community.

If you are interested in helping 30 Years After with this new and exciting endeavor, please send an email to ourlegacyproject@30yearsafter.org. Please visit www.OurLegacyProject.org for more information.

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December 8, 2009 | 2:08 pm

30 YEARS AFTER: IRANIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY URGES PASSAGE OF IRAN REFINED PETROLEUM SANCTIONS ACT

Posted by Sam Yebri

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 8, 2009) –  Americans awoke Monday morning with news that tens of thousands of students marched courageously throughout the streets of Iran.  Their gasps for freedom were met with tear gas.  Their civil disobedience met electric stun guns and batons.  Fortunately, American leaders have pledged not to stand idly by and allow the Iranian regime to suppress its own people and develop nuclear weapons.  Leaders in the House of Representatives have said that they intend to bring major Iran sanctions legislation, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (IRPSA) (H.R. 2194), to the floor for a vote before the end of the year.  IRPSA reinforces American diplomacy by authorizing sanctions on companies that provide Iran with refined petroleum products.  Because Iran imports approximately 40% of its refined petroleum, implementation of the sanctions contained in IRPSA would significantly impact the Iranian economy and force the Iranian regime to make a choice: either continue its illicit nuclear program and risk economic isolation or suspend the program and open the door to relief from sanctions.  The bill has the broad bipartisan support of 76 Senators and 342 House members. 

The timing of the vote is critical.  Just last week, the Iranian government announced the provocative expansion of its nuclear program in its sprint towards acquiring nuclear weapons.  Before it is too late, the Iranian American community urges its leaders to pass IRPSA and take other peaceful economic and diplomatic measures.  Yet, as thousands of brave Iranian citizens raise their voices for freedom and democracy, other voices clamor for delay.  Yesterday, Americans for Peace Now (APN) issued a letter to each House member in opposition to IRPSA.  APN claims that “the most likely and immediate result [of IRPSA’s passage] will be a backlash by the people of Iran against the United States, not against the Iranian regime.”  Last week, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an organization that purports to “represent[] Iranian Americans on Capitol Hill,” issued a press release asserting that IRPSA’s passage “is a move in the direction of punishing the Iranian people instead of the Iranian government.”  Such a tenuous claim—that the very people who are risking their lives to shout “Death to Dictator” would return to shouting “Death to America” because of an increase in the price of gasoline domestically due to sanctions aimed at weakening the very regime they are protesting—is belied by the reality of what’s happening in the streets of Tehran. 

The Iranian people desperately seek for the United States and the international community to stand on their side.  The video clips of the demonstrations tell the story.  While APN and NIAC ask the American government to do nothing, the people of Iran march and chant “Obama, Obama, Ya Ba Mah, Ya Bah Unah;”  “Obama, Obama, Either you are with us or you are with them.”  Even more striking, the people refuse to heed the mullahs’ calls for chants of “Down with America” and “Down with Israel.”  Instead, they respond with “Down with Russia”—a pointed reminder that Russia refuses to back tough economic sanctions at the United Nations. 

Now is the time to stand with the Iranian people.  The days of moral equivalence and half measures must end.  Don’t we owe it to the besieged Iranian people?  The Iranian American community does.  We have demonstrated publicly on a daily basis in Los Angeles.  Today, we urge our leaders to take action before it is too late.  We urge all Americans to contact their Member of Congress now and urge him or her to help pass IRPSA this month.

30 Years After (www.30yearsafter.org) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, whose mission is to promote the participation and leadership of Iranian American Jews in American political, civic and Jewish life.

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October 27, 2009 | 7:12 pm

A Time For Action

Posted by Sam Yebri

By: Ramin Rabieian

Last week, I attended a press conference at Beverly Hills City Hall, organized by Assemblymembers Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield.  They announced that they will introduce legislation prohibiting contracts between the State of California and companies with significant business in Iran’s energy sector.  Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is extremely alarming to me and to most in my community, if not all.  To feel and realize the danger of a nuclear Iran, one should view Iran’s nuclear ambitions not as a desire to build nuclear plants but as a possible plot to reconstruct Auschwitz and Birkenau. 
Even though the importance and urgency of the situation outweighs anything else, a sense of pride and muted joy overtook me.  I was proud because among the three people who addressed the crowd about the legislation was my colleague, Sam Yebri, President of 30 Years After. Seeing Sam speak signaled a point that our activist efforts to bring attention to Iran’s dangerous ambitions during the past months were beginning to bear fruit.  A feeling of muted joy was unavoidable because, after all, despite the promise of this legislation to help keep the world safe, we are forced to tackle an evil originating from the land where I was born, where my ancestors lived for centuries, and from where our community derives so much of our culture and heritage.

The buzz surrounding the press conference surpassed the dozens in attendance as people asked me how it went or forwarded emails about it.  The most important thing is that my generation, the generation of 30 Years After, feels the urgency of the situation and is showing an interest and willingness to fight this fight.  After all, our confidence in the dangers of the situation do not derive solely from news reports, but also from the firsthand knowledge of our parents’ interactions with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which ultimately led to their exodus to America and abandonment of two thousand years of Jewish life in Iran.

The Middle East is very volatile— wars in Israel, the sporadic yet very real flirtation with revolution in Iran and bombings in Iraq.  It is the uncertainty in this region that can make things go from bad to worse in an instant and endanger thousands of lives.  But in the case of a nuclear Iran, it is no longer thousands but possibly millions of lives.  This is why both our Jewish values and basic human decency mandate that we challenge Iran’s nuclear ambitions with the same boldness and resolve that previous generations fought for civil rights in America.

In the coming months, 30 Years After will strive to lead and channel the community’s aspirations for involvement, by hosting events such as the one featuring former CIA Director James Woolsey at the Museum of Tolerance with United Against Nuclear Iran, by engaging community organizations and leaders regarding Iran, and heightening community awareness and activism at a diverse group of synagogues. The future success of our efforts is in the hands of our community, whose support we desperately need. 

RAMIN RABIEIAN IS A RECENT GRADUATE FROM CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE WITH A DEGREE IN FINANCE.  HE CURRENTLY MANAGES REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES AND INTENDS TO COMMENCE LAW SCHOOL NEXT FALL.

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September 10, 2009 | 5:29 pm

LIVE BROADCAST: The Health care Debate

Posted by Jay Firestone

This is a recording of a live broadcast from Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009

“Health Care Reform: What it would mean to your practice, to our community and to Los Angeles.”

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Speakers include:

Hon. William W. Brien, M.D.
Member of the Beverly Hills City Council
Chief of Staff, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
CA State Health Policy Commissioner

Howard A. Kahn
CEO, L.A. Care Health Plan
Chair, CA Association of Health Plans
Commissioner, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability (Prop 63) Commission
Co-Convener, Children’s Health Initiative of Greater Los Angeles

Sarita A. Mohanty, M.D.
Assistant Professor, USC Keck School of Medicine
Los Angeles County Public Health Commissioner
Medical Director, COPE Health Solutions

Larry Greenfield
Fellow in American Studies at the Claremont Institute
Executive Director of the Reagan Legacy Foundation.

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September 1, 2009 | 1:08 am

The Role of Technology in Diplomacy

Posted by Sam Yebri

The Role of Technology in Diplomacy
Nicole Farnoush

Social networking sites like Facebook and the now popular Twitter have hurriedly and indispensably integrated themselves into the daily lives of millions of users.  Not only do these sites connect peers socially, they have emerged as a global stage of what some might call gruesomely beautiful togetherness.  Case in point: The Iranian Elections.

The Iranian government cracked down on communication on the infamous Election Day.  The regime shut down email and text messaging services, depriving opposition leaders and peaceful protestors of their most effective organizing tools. 

When Iranian authorities clamped down on conventional communication and banned Western journalists from covering political demonstrations, sites such as Facebook and Twitter were able to provide media outlets critical information.  Resourceful social networking users found ways to evade government snooping by programming their Web browsers to contact a proxy—an Internet server that transmitted their connection through another country.  More importantly, these sites afforded individuals a firsthand glimpse into what was transpiring in Iran from the most credible source of all: its people.  Links to reports and photos from marches throughout Tehran, both peaceful and gruesome, spread virally into the homes of millions.  Activists, students, teenagers—people from all walks of life—shared their disgust for the footage that appeared on their computer screens.  Thousands of individuals changed the color of their avatars to green to signify their support for freedom in Iran.  Commentators even labeled such spontaneous anti-government demonstrations as the “Twitter Revolution.”

While the White House took a careful, hands-off approach, the U.S. State Department ensured that sites like Twitter stayed up and running for Iranians to use them.  The rationale behind this was simple.  This was about the Iranian people and giving their voices a chance to be heard. 

In fact, social networking sites provided information that was so vital to cover the rapidly developing events in Iran that conventional media such as CNN not only relied on Twitter and Facebook posts but actually based their television news coverage on them. 

Media coverage of events in Iran has recently died down.  However, it is essential to recognize the empowerment of cyber activism for people living under undemocratic governments. 

The beauty behind these social networking sites was and still is their resilience against censorship.  Where the Internet was banned, other means to communicate emerged.  With the overabundance of outlets to which these posts may appear, censorship seems almost impossible. 

Twitter “tweets” and Facebook updates from Iran have echoed throughout the world.  Where government officials closed one door, the youth opened another.  THIS is what makes social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter so powerful and why they became so crucial after the elections.  The revolution may not be televised.  But with enough bandwidth, it can be followed on Twitter. 

Nicole Farnoush serves on the Board of Directors of 30 Years After.  She earned her Master’s Degree in City Planning and Economic Development and a Bachelor of Science in Policy, Planning and Development from USC.

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July 20, 2009 | 12:59 am

Looking Back and Looking Forward

Posted by Sam Yebri

by Michael Yadegaran

The events of the past month should be a source of great pride for all Iranian Jews.  Following the elections of June 12th, we have witnessed pro-reform protests the likes of which we have not seen since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.  The popular uprising follows a heavily scrutinized election that most Western countries believe was illegitimate.  What began as anger over the Islamic Republic’s failure to declare Mir-Hossein Mousavi the victor quickly turned into protests in favor of overthrowing the Islamic Republic and its clerical hierarchy.

Multiple elements of this uprising distinguish it from any previous student demonstration or popular uprising since the Islamic Revolution.  Protesters were stunned by the death of “Neda,” a peaceful Iranian female activist who was brutally gunned down by Iran’s ruthless Basij secret police.  Neda’s death serves as a symbolic rallying cry on two fronts: she was both a woman and part of Iran’s large population of pro-reform youth.  Besides Neda, we see countless protesters willing to give their lives for a free Iran.  The majority of protesters are in their twenties, and have had enough of the oppressive policies of the Islamic dictatorship that has controlled their entire lives.

For any staunch supporter of Israel, Iran is the single greatest threat to Israel’s existence in recent history.  One month ago I returned from a mission to Israel with 22 young Iranian Jewish leaders from 30 Years After.  In our meetings with high-ranking Israeli officials such as MK and former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Former Mossad Director Efraim Halevy, and MK Yoel Hasson, we witnessed a deep concern of a nuclear Iran. 

When protests broke out after the June 12th elections, I felt a need to show my solidarity with the Iranian protestors.  I looked for a pro-active way to support the uprising, and found myself marching in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles multiple times over the past month.  However, rallies only go so far.  It is time for our policymakers to meaningfully challenge a regime that supports terrorism, brutally oppresses peaceful protesters, and advocates genocide.  The global community has given the Iranian uprising a resounding vote of confidence; it is time for our leaders to do the same.

One important tangible step that our local leaders can take in isolating the regime is by economic divestment.  To disincentivize corporations from doing business with Iran, it is vital that we demand divestment of our tax dollars from corporations that continue to inject capital into Iran’s economy.  Such isolation will not only paralyze the Iranian economy, but it will also prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining the technology it uses to crush and censor dissent. 

This Tuesday, July 21st, the Los Angeles Country Board of Supervisors will consider a resolution proposed by Michael Antonovich and Zev Yaroslavsky encouraging the County Pension Board to divest from companies doing business in Iran’s energy sector.  Divestment from the LA County Pension Fund - one of the largest public Pension Funds in the Country - will send a powerful message to Iran and to all companies that do business with the rogue regime.  30 Years After encourages its members to join in the audience to show support for this significant initiative and demand that Los Angeles not invest our tax dollars in supporting the Iranian government. 

The hearing will take place on Tuesday, July 21st at 9:30 am, Board Hearing Room 381B, Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles 90012.

In addition, in 2008, the German corporation Siemens sold technology to Iran that the Islamic Regime used to intercept and catalog e-mails, telephone calls and Internet data. This technology was utilized in the brutal crackdown on post-election demonstrations.  On July 23rd, the Los Angeles MTA Board will vote on whether to open the bidding to Siemens on a $300 million contract to make rail cars for the Los Angeles subway.  Please contact each of the MTA Board members below and demand that our tax dollars not support corporations that are directly facilitating censorship and oppression in Iran:

o Ara Najarian
Chair
Mayor, City of Glendale
500 N. Central Ave., #940
Glendale CA 91203
ajn51esq@yahoo.com

o Don Knabe
First Vice Chair
Los Angeles County Supervisor
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-4444
(213) 626-6941 fax
dsommers@lacbos.org

o Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Second Vice Chair, LACMTA
Mayor, City of Los Angeles
200 North Spring Street, Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-0600
(213) 978-0750 fax
mayor@lacity.org

o Michael D. Antonovich
Los Angeles County Supervisor
500 West Temple Street, Room 869
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-5555
(213) 974-1010 fax

o Diane DuBois
City Council Member, Lakewood
5050 Clark Avenue
Lakewood, CA 90712
Phone: 562-866-9771
Fax: 562-866-0505

o John Fasana
City Council Member, Duarte
1600 Huntington Drive
Duarte, CA 91010
Phone: 626-357-7931
FAX: 626-358-0018 CM
fasanaj@accessduarte.com

o José Huizar
City Council Member, Los Angeles
200 N. Spring Street, Room 465
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 473-7014
Fax: (213) 847-0680
Ana.Cubas@lacity.org

o Richard Katz
City of Los Angeles
Mayor Appointee

o Gloria Molina
Los Angeles County Supervisor
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 974-4111
Fax: (213) 613-1739
molina@bos.lacounty.gov

o Pam O’Connor
City Council Member, Santa Monica
1685 Main Street, Room 209
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310)458-8201
(310)458-1621 fax                    
pam.oconnor@smgov.net

o Mark Ridley-Thomas
Los Angeles County Supervisor
500 W. Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-2222
(213) 680-3283 fax
markridley-thomas@bos.lacounty.gov

o Rita Robinson
City of Los Angeles
Mayor Appointtee

o Zev Yaroslavsky
Los Angeles County Supervisor
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-3333
(213) 625-7360 fax
zev@bos.lacounty.gov

It is time to stand together against this regime; 30 years of oppression is enough.  As our brothers and sisters in Iran have been chanting—“Azadi! Azadi!” (Freedom! Freedom!)

—Michael Yadegaran is a History student at the University of California, San Diego and a member of the Board of Directors of 30 Years After. 

To learn more about Siemens’s ties to Iran and the upcoming MTA Board hearing, see: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/17/siemens-risks-losses-due-to-iran-ties/?feat=home_cube_position1 and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124562668777335653.html.

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June 14, 2009 | 7:15 pm

Memories from Iran: 30 Years After

Posted by Sam Yebri

The scenes coming out of the streets of Tehran in the aftermath of Friday’s Iranian elections remind many Iranian Jews now living in Los Angeles of their last memories before they fled their native land: students taking to the streets, protesting the current regime and seeking to bring about a change.  But that is where the similarities end.  Today’s students are seeking that the democratic will of the people be respected, no longer seeking to force their will upon the people.  Chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” have been replaced for a moment by “reformist” candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi’s supporters’ chants of “We Want Freedom” and “We Want Our Votes Back.”

Having now lived in history’s greatest experiment with democracy for 30 years, Iranian Jews living in Los Angeles support the Iranian people’s struggle towards a true and transparent democracy.  Recent developments in Iran, however, have called into question the truth and transparency of this most recent election.  With a government clampdown on the Internet, media and cell phone communications, and their ongoing refusal to permit international observers, the recent election results will be difficult, if not impossible, to verify.  Although a Mousavi victory is unlikely to bring about any immediate and significant policy changes in Iran with respect to their pursuit of nuclear weapons or their stance towards Israel and the United States, such a victory may encourage a new attitude amongst Iranian youth and to challenge their government to become a responsible member of the international community.

At the very least these recent elections have served to further expose the true face of the Iranian regime.  Even for those who have served as regime sympathizers and apologists, such as Roger Cohen of the New York Times, duplicitous election results and scenes of students being beaten simply for wanting their votes to be counted should leave no room for sympathy and apologies on behalf of the Iranian regime.  In his most recent op-ed published on June 14th, Roger Cohen states, “I erred in underestimating the brutality and cynicism of a regime that understands the uses of ruthlessness.”  Although such an observation is crystal clear to those Iranian Jews living in Los Angeles, it is now becoming clear to those like Roger Cohen who had been duped by the Iranian regime like many of Iran’s own citizens.

Although Iranian Jews living in Los Angeles are under no illusions that the chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” will come to an end with a Mousavi victory, there is a belief that a free and fair election will bring the voices of more moderate elements of Iranian society to the forefront.  With that will come hope that these deafening chants may slowly fade into the past.

And as for young Persian Jews in Los Angeles, they are speaking out in force . . . on Facebook.  Select status updates from the last 48 hours include: 

thinking about putting the bar exam on hold to lead revolution in iran—- eat it mahmoud!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a little graphic. Not for the faint of heart. Is this freedom? To get BEATEN for protesting?!
If by robust you mean fraudulent.. then yes good job prez
  by re-electing ahmadinejad, iran is committing suicide. no one, not even the mullahs are stupid enough to believe israel is gonna stand by and let iran wipe her off the map.
is proud of Iranians for not taking this injustice lying down
democracy?  hitler was elected democratically. so was hamas in gaza. and now ahmadinejad? why do our presidents wish to spread democracy so badly? bush and obama have it all wrong.
Doesn’t look like a landslide victory to me…
Ahmadinejad and his regime calling in every chance they have to destroy the Israeli state with all jewish people inside, we cant let it happen again
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Is glued to satellite tv watching protests and listening to eye witness reports from Tehran….
“Rivals in Iran Both Claim Election Victory”—I know this is a sensitive topic, but LOL!

Finally, for a critical briefing on the Iranian election and Iran’s nuclear program, please join 30 Years After Thursday June 18th at the Simon Wiesenthal Center as we host former CIA Director James Woolsey (http://www.30yearsafter.org/pdf/iran-nuclear-bomb.pdf).

Raymond Zolekhian and Sam Yebri are co-founders of the Iranian-Jewish civic action organization “30 Years After” (www.30yearsafter.org).  Zolekhian, a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, and Yebri, a graduate of Yale University and USC Law School, are attorneys in Los Angeles.

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April 16, 2009 | 9:02 pm

That’s Where The Debate Is Going

Posted by Sam Yebri

Last week, we and three senior officials of the Jewish Federation met with a senior editor of The Los Angeles Times editorial page.  We arranged the meeting to express widespread criticism among members of the Los Angeles Jewish community of editorial decisions by the Times regarding Israel.  Specifically, we focused on the newspaper’s decision to publish an opinion piece by Hamas political deputy Mousa Abu Marzook on January 6, 2009, during the peak of the Hamas War.

In his piece, Marzook dismissed Israel’s response to Hamas’ indiscriminate rocket fire as a “preemptive strike” and “simpl[e] aggression . . . designed to sow terror and loose anarchy.”  In his sole reference to rocket fire from Gaza, Marzook claimed that only one Israeli had been killed in the six-months prior to the conflict.  The Times ran, then later corrected this outright lie.  Marzook also slammed calls for Hamas to recognize the right of Israel to exist as “hollow,” given Israel’s “murderous onslaught” and “military occup[ation].”

We asserted that publishing such a piece in the Times lends credibility to the views and actions of Hamas.  The editor, however, pointed to the democratic election of Hamas in Gaza and the favorable views of some world leaders towards Hamas, including President Jimmy Carter.  We understand the journalistic obligation to publish a broad spectrum of viewpoints and to let the marketplace of ideas rebut those views that some find pernicious.  But, our freedom of speech and freedom of press must be used responsibly.  This is especially true given that Hamas’ ultimate aim is the murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel.  Disseminating the views of a senior Hamas leader in a mainstream newspaper furthers those objectives.

Our conversation returned often to the larger issue of context.  We debated whether the average reader is aware of the founding Charter of Hamas or of Marzook’s terrorist history.  The Hamas Charter calls for the “obliteration” of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic state and quotes from the infamous Protocols of the Elders of Zion.  Marzook, meanwhile, is no political official, but a man the United States government indicted as conspiring to fund terrorism and listed as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”  The editor noted that the Israeli media prints much more controversial pieces.  That argument is, of course, a straw man.  Every Israeli reader is aware that Hamas is committed to the death of innocent Jews; Israelis live daily in the shadow of Hamas’ terror.  Not all American readers are similarly aware of Hamas’ genocidal goals.  Publishing a piece by Marzook with a byline that fails to mention his admitted aim of killing Jews is akin to publishing a piece by former senatorial candidate and former KKK “Grand Wizard” David Duke with a byline that identifies Duke solely as a “political candidate.”  Doing so is misleading and dangerous.

The editor, a thoughtful journalist who to his credit welcomed our meeting, assured us that neither he nor his editorial board treats the decision to publish pieces by Hamas lightly.  We discussed the decision by The Washington Post to run an editorial critical of Hamas alongside an opinion piece by Hamas foreign minister and founder, Mahmoud al-Zahar.  Whether The Post’s decision was designed to avoid meetings like ours or reflected the newspaper’s desire to make a bold statement about the terrorist organization, it seems unlikely that Hamas would submit any pieces to The Post in the future.

Recently, The Los Angeles Times ran a pair of dueling opinion pieces: “Zionism is the Problem” by Ben Ehrenreich and “Is Anti-Zionism Hate?” by Judea Pearl.  We maintained that the editorial decisions of The Times frame debates on important issues—as evidenced by the Ehrenreich and Pearl pieces—and shape how policymakers view those issues.  The editor responded that while newspapers may to some extent frame debates, they also follow debates.  He then made a startling observation—that whether Israel should continue to exist as a Jewish state or whether Hamas’ grievances are valid and justified . . . “that’s where the debate is going.”

If that is true, anyone who values Israel as a bastion of freedom and democracy and a historical homeland for the Jewish people should be concerned.  That after sixty years and countless wars and conflicts the very right of the Jewish people to peace and autonomy is being revisited reflects an incalculable failure:  the failure to stand up effectively to Israel’s critics.  Our failure to speak up in a united and consistent fashion enables former American Presidents to label Israel an apartheid state, American diplomats to blast the “dishonor” and “indecency” of the “Israel lobby” when they are passed over for government positions, and the President of the United Nations General Assembly to accuse Israel of “genocide” for defending its citizens from rocket fire.

If indeed newspapers like the Times follow the debate and that is where the debate is going, our community must speak up.  If you disagree with something that a newspaper publishes, write a letter to the editor (for the Times, email letters@latimes.com).  Submit opinion pieces.  Request meetings with newspaper editorial boards.  Our silence, especially after a piece like Marzook’s, is deafening.

We are in danger of losing the debate.  If we do, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

David Peyman and Sam Yebri are co-founders of the Iranian-Jewish civic action organization “30 Years After” (www.30yearsafter.org).  Peyman, a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, and Yebri, a graduate of Yale University and USC Law School, are attorneys in Los Angeles.

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March 1, 2009 | 3:07 pm

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Posted by Sam Yebri

This is the first post for 30 Years After.

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