Making history by recording history

 Esther’s Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews

The Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History
and
The Graduate Society Foundation 

cordially invite you to the much anticipated launching of the book

 Esther’s Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews.

 Please join us for afternoon tea as we celebrate

 this unprecedented undertaking and unique cultural event.

 Sunday, May 19, 2002 4 PM to 7 PM

Southern California Nessah Educational and Cultural Center

142 South Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

The Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History started its efforts in Los Angeles, in 1995. Since then, the Center has gathered a collection of old photographs and historically significant documents from around the world; a collection that is unique not only in its subject matter, but also in its size and scope. Over one thousand four hundred photographs and well over two hundred and fifty documents such as ketubbas, diplomas, business permits, birth certificates, and business contracts documenting the lives of Iranian Jews in the twentieth century have been brought together in the Center's archives. These treasures have been digitized into disk format for safekeeping.

In 1998, the Center decided to bring these photographs and documents together under a large format book to commemorate the lives, stories, and history of those who helped safeguard Iranian Jewry's twenty-seven hundred year-old culture.

The book, Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews includes a vast selection of historically, socially, and culturally significant photographs and documents from CIJOH's archives, as well as pictures of traditional Iranian Jewish ceremonial objects recently compiled to complement the collection. Accompanied by an extensive narrative on the history, ethnography, sociology, and languages of Jews in Iran, these pictures and documents are meant not only to record our people's precious heritage for our children and their descendents, but also to present a portrait of Iranian Jews to the world at large; a portrait that many do not know exists.

F. A. Q. about Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews

In what language is Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews published?

The book will be published in English in order to be accessible to a large cross section of people from cultures the world over.

What is the format of Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews?

Large format, hard cover, 4 color jacket 9.5" x 12".

Who will find the book most useful?

As the most comprehensive collection of antique photographs and documents pertaining to the Jews of Iran, Esther's Children will prove useful to all members of the Jewish community, young and old, and it will benefit generations to come.

Why should I support Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews?

This book is not just a necessity for the Iranian Jewish community; it is also of great value to anyone concerned with the history and culture of Iran and Iranian Jews. The Jews of Iran constitute one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Your support will help us build a lasting monument to our past and safeguard our legacy for the future. With your contribution, CIJOH can begin to put together a portrait of our ancient community worthy of our ancestry; a portrait to hand down to our children with pride.