Leader of Iranian Jews:
Israel’s massacre of Gazans unjustifiable
Jews had a peaceful life in Al-Quds before Zionism
By Ebrahim Beheshti
Staff writer
Is the regime of Israel the representative of Jews worldwide? What is the connection between Israel’s performance and the teachings of Judaism? How do Jews opposed to Zionism think of Israeli crimes in Gaza? What solutions do peace-seeking Jews and those opposed to Zionism support to end the war and oppression against the Palestinians? These are the questions Iran Daily has posed to Younes Hamami Lalehzar, the leader of the Jews in Iran. The 56-year-old chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran, in addition to his religious studies, has also studied medicine inside the country. In an interview with Iran Daily, he sees Zionism as different from Judaism and believes that holding a free and inclusive election and forming a unified government in all occupied territories and Palestine could be an acceptable solution to end war and occupation.
The Israeli regime claims to be the government or representative of Jews worldwide. How accurate do you think this statement is?
The governing regime in Israel, namely., the Zionist regime, is derived from the perspectives of the "Zionist movement" that took shape in the late 19th century. Following nationalist movements emerging in Europe, a nationalist movement among some Jews, known as Zionist nationalism, formed, representing a purely political movement. According to Jewish beliefs, the Torah promises the Holy Land to the descendants of Abraham, his son Isaac, and subsequently to the descendants of Isaac and Jacob. When Moses leads the Israelites in rebellion against the oppression of the Pharaoh in Egypt, he guides them toward the Promised Land (Bayt al-Maqdis). After Moses's death, they establish governance in the Holy Land under his successor, Joshua, the most famous of which is the rule of the prophets David and Solomon. Solomon builds the
Solomon's Temple (also known as the First Temple) in Jerusalem or Al-Quds.
According to Jewish beliefs, during the time of the promised Messiah, all Jews will gather in the Holy Land.
Over the more than 2000 years since the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Romans, Jews have hoped and anticipated a return to Jerusalem or the Promised Land. However, they have never taken practical steps themselves to conquer Al-Quds or establish a government. Zionism, however, uses this Jewish aspiration and employs “the end justifies the means” approach, contrary to the Torah, to shape the ideology of Zionism for the establishment of a government in the Holy Land. “Zion” means the desire for the place of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
According to a classification of Zion meaning a passion for Jewish holy sites, there are Religious Zionism and Political Zionism. Religious Zionism implies an affinity for the holy sites of the Jews in Jerusalem, much like how Muslims have holy and revered sites. However, they are not inclined to conquer those holy places through war or any means. In contrast, Political Zionism, unlike Religious Zionism, which awaits the appearance of the Messiah, is not waiting for the Messiah's arrival and asserts that they will take control of the Holy Land by any means necessary.
It's important to note that the political regime in Israel is not a religious regime, and only a few significant issues, such as divorce and laws related to halal or forbidden foods, are under the jurisdiction of religious authorities. The legal framework of the Zionist regime is secular. However, since it was founded based on Jewish ideals, it sees itself as the defender of Jews worldwide. This is while the initial opposition to the formation of the Zionist party and the Zionist political ideology came from Jews themselves.
Is Zionism a conventional or secularized form of the Jewish faith, or is it a deviation from Judaism?
Zionists do not claim religious piety; they are a political party. Groups like ISIS claim to be true representatives of Islam. Zionists, however, make no such claims because fundamentally, they are not a religious movement. Instead, they utilize certain religious elements whenever it serves their interests. For instance, in this regime, there are two types of courts, and in state or government-related courts, judgments are not based on the Torah. A few years ago, there was a dispute where some religious individuals wanted only one verse from the Torah, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one," to be recited in the morning ceremonies at schools. However, the Ministry of Education rejected this, stating that the system is secular. Therefore, Zionists exploit Jewish beliefs whenever it suits their interests.
You mentioned that Jews have not taken any action over the past 2000 years to establish a government and return to the Promised Land. Is this due to the interpretation of religious teachings and the Torah, or is it because of a lack of power and the possibility of forming a government?
Even in circumstances where conditions were favorable, they never took steps to establish a government. The Holy Land has never been completely devoid of Jews throughout history. During a period when the Romans occupied it, they did not allow Jews to stay in the city of Jerusalem. However, during Muslim rule over the Bayt al-Maqdis, Jews, Muslims, and Christians lived together, and until the establishment of the Zionist regime in 1948, they coexisted. Given the numerous shared beliefs and jurisprudential aspects between Judaism and Islam, the anti-Jewish sentiments, primarily found in Western and Christian countries, were absent in Islamic countries. Many Muslim scholars have been defenders of the rights of religious minorities. This peaceful coexistence has been disrupted since the establishment of the Zionist regime. Even groups of Jews residing in the Bayt al-Maqdis refused to obtain Israeli citizenship and identification cards, leading many of these dissenters to migrate from occupied territories.
According to Jewish beliefs, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem requires certain prerequisites and necessities that are dependent on the advent of the promised Messiah. Therefore, in periods when conditions were somewhat favorable, they took no action to form a government. For example, about 800 years ago, when the Fatimids ruled this land, a prominent Jewish figure named “Moses ben Maimon” had significant power, influence, and authority in the Fatimid court. However, he never chose to reside in the Bayt al-Maqdis or use his power and authority in Jerusalem.
In the Jewish faith, like other religions, there are likely different sects and inclinations. What does the religious statement that Jews or the Children of Israel are the chosen people or a superior race mean? In the third chapter of the book of Amos, God addresses Amos, saying, "You alone have I chosen from all the families of the earth." What does this choice or being chosen imply? Are the supremacist interpretations held by some Jews living in occupied territories based on such religious statements?
This chosen status does not have racial implications. While the core of Judaism or followers of Prophet Moses are indeed the Children of Israel, as stated in the Torah, many Egyptians who were not part of the Children of Israel also believed in Moses due to Pharaoh's oppression and tyranny. They joined the Children of Israel and Moses in leaving Egypt.
According to the Torah, this superiority or chosen status of the Children of Israel has two perspectives. One is through relative connection and link of the Children of Israel to great personalities and prophets like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In essence, this superiority refers to the lineage and descent of the Children of Israel. However, the prerequisite for enjoying this privilege is that the Children of Israel or followers of the Jewish faith must behave, act, and believe like those great figures or continue their path.
The other aspect of this superiority revolves around the fact that the Children of Israel or followers of Judaism are the first community to unanimously become monotheistic. This matter is also mentioned in the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims. Therefore, by virtue of being the first in monotheism, they are considered chosen. However, this chosenness is not a carte blanche. As stated in the Torah, the Children of Israel are the chosen people on the condition that they execute divine commandments. Therefore, being chosen does not imply superiority or racism.
You mentioned divine commandments. The Ten Commandments, all call for a peaceful coexistence with others and worship of the Lord. They emphasize values such as "thou shalt not kill." Unlike what is observed in Zionist behavior, it appears that the teachings of Judaism advocate compassion toward others, even adversaries.
Yes, that's right. When Judaism emerged, other nations were generally idolatrous. Judaism, as outlined in the Torah, does not even encourage the elimination of idol worshippers. Prophet Solomon, who was both a prophet and a king, made peace treaties with many neighbors who were idolaters. Judaism is not fundamentally a proselytizing religion that seeks to make everyone Jewish. Throughout their history, Jews living alongside different religions or nations have mostly coexisted peacefully. A notable example is present in Iran itself. The presence of Jews in Iran dates back to before the formation of Iran, to the time when the Medes and Persians were settled. In the Book of Kings, Volume 2, it is mentioned that when the Assyrian king brought some Jews into captivity, he settled them in the cities of Media (western provinces of Iran). The Torah itself states that you were strangers in the land of Egypt and experienced life in bondage, so do not treat others as captives.
During World War II, Jews themselves became victims of the ideology of superiority and racial supremacy. The supremacist behavior adopted by the Israeli regime for followers of Judaism should be a subject of contemplation.
In one of the protests against Israel's aggression toward the people of Gaza in Britain or the United States, an elderly Jewish man said, "I am a survivor of the Holocaust. My parents were killed in that incident, and I understand the pain and suffering of the people in Gaza.”
Every political party or regime has its own propaganda machine and narratives. The Israeli regime, by referring to certain events or claims, advertises a kind of victimhood for itself and labels any opposition to Zionism as opposition to Judaism, creating a dichotomy between Jewish-Arab or Jewish-Islamic relations.
However, the roots of this propaganda go back to the divisions and discords fomented by Britain in Palestine. Before the establishment of the Israeli regime, Jews lived peacefully alongside Muslims and Christians in Palestine. Some policies by certain countries have also fueled Israel's propaganda. For instance, the government of Iraq expelled Jews living in the country at one point, providing a platform for Zionist propaganda that claimed Jews were not safe anywhere in the world except in Israel. Or they claimed that Arabs and Muslims were all united against Jews and wanted to annihilate them. Zionists aim to create a sense of victimhood for themselves and encourage Jews worldwide to migrate to Israel through such propaganda.
In the past couple of months, events occurred in some countries that Israelis interpreted as anti-Semitic. For example, attacks on synagogues in Europe, which were, of course, reprehensible acts. Those who attacked synagogues are either truly against Judaism, or they are unaware of the distinction between Judaism and Zionism. However, Israel's propaganda machine and its supportive media worldwide brand any opposition to Zionism as anti-Semitism. Therefore, it is essential to differentiate between Zionism and Judaism. As seen in the Islamic Republic of Iran, emerging from an Islamic revolution, in the very first year after victory, Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, emphasized that Zionism is separate from Judaism as a religion. Ayatollah Khamenei, the current Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has continued this policy, preventing Zionists from taking advantage of Judaism.
In your view, as a follower of the Jewish faith, does the level of violence, destruction, and killing of people in Gaza over the past two months justify with any rationale or perspective?
Causing harm to civilians, destroying public and non-military places, and killing non-combatants, even in war, have no justification whatsoever. The goal of the Israeli regime has been to evacuate the entire Gaza Strip of non-Jewish or non-Zionist residents. The October 7 attack by Hamas served as a pretext to operationalize this objective. Perhaps if Operation Al-Aqsa Storm did not happen, a similar situation would have occurred under a different pretext in the near future. Israelis claim the right to defend themselves against what they characterize as Hamas's violent actions in attacking occupied territories. However, under this justification, they aim to empty the Gaza Strip of its Muslim and Arab inhabitants.
You mentioned that various groups of Jews are opposed to Zionism. Don't you think the formation of a global union or confederation of anti-Zionist Jews could contribute to better clarity and enlightenment in distinguishing between Judaism and Zionism?
One of the ancient Jewish groups opposed to Zionism is Neturei Karta. Representatives of this group came to Iran a few years ago, and during the recent trip of Iran’s president to New York to attend in the United Nations General Assembly, some rabbis from this group met with him. They had previously aligned themselves with the Palestinian Fatah movement.
In Israel itself, there is an active group of Jews called Peace Now, advocating for peaceful coexistence with Palestinian Muslims. However, within the political and parliamentary structure, they do not wield significant influence. There is also a group of Jewish scholars residing in Islamic countries who almost share the same idea of promoting peace and peaceful coexistence. The formation of such a union would undoubtedly have more power and cohesion.
Based on the teachings of Judaism, what solutions can be proposed to end the oppression of the Israeli regime against the Palestinians?
No monotheistic religion, including Judaism, accepts that anyone or a group should be subjected to oppression simply because some desire to maintain their favorable situation. One of the fundamental beliefs is not to steal or seize. Politically, both sides are attempting to eliminate the other, yet neither has succeeded so far. Therefore, practically, there is no solution other than coexistence and tolerance for each other. The proposed solution, as suggested by the leader of Iran’s Revolution, is to hold a free and nationwide election there, which could be a viable solution.
If all residents of the occupied territories and Palestinians think in a way that we all live in this region, and for a better situation, the appropriate path in the initial stage is to tolerate and coexist with each other, a suitable foundation could be laid to end these decades-long wars. Of course, coexistence and fair living mean not having some with more privileges and others facing significant restrictions. A free and inclusive election based on the understanding that everyone has the right to life might lead to a positive outcome. War and conflict are undesirable anywhere in the world, especially in a land sacred to all religions. Peace in Palestine might bring tranquility not only to the region but also to the entire world.
So, you believe in the solution of one state with two peoples based on holding free and inclusive elections where everyone has equal rights and privileges?
Yes. There must be a fair framework that ensures the interests and rights of everyone.
The prelude to this solution or any other solution is the immediate establishment of a cease-fire in Gaza and the cessation of the killing of people.
Yes, absolutely. Right now, there is a senseless bombing and massacre happening in Gaza. It's unacceptable that, under the pretext of the possibility of some members of Hamas being there, they bomb the place and kill innocent people. War itself has its framework and laws. They should not kill defenseless and civilian individuals. Cease-fire is the top priority.