Yeshiva University Museum

This exhibition tells the rich and complex history of one of the world's oldest Jewish communities, which dates back nearly 2,700 years. From the 16th century, Iran was ruled according to strict Shiite Islamic doctrine, and the lives of Jews were marked by periods of persecution and legal prohibition as well as by outstanding creative and intellectual achievements. Archaeological artifacts, illuminated manuscripts, Judaica, textiles, musical instruments, paintings, photographs, videos, and more highlight the complex and fascinating story of Iranian Jews and the beauty of Judeo-Persian traditions.

Light and Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews was created and organized by Beit Hatfutsot – The Museum of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv, Israel. It is presented in New York by Yeshiva University Museum and the Center for Jewish History, in cooperation with the American Sephardi Federation.

The exhibition is sponsored by:
The Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation

The New York presentation of the exhibition is made possible through the generous support of:
Diamond Charity Foundation
The David Berg Foundation
Slovin Foundation
Iranian American Jewish Federation of NY-IAJF
UJA Federation of New York
The Global Mashadi Jewish Federation
Mahrokh and Tanaz Eshaghian: The E. Ike Eshaghian Foundation
Kamran Hakim