A Symbolic Gesture With an Eye on the Future: Iran’s Crown Prince Receives Mezuzot for a Future Israeli Embassy in Tehran

Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress in Israel, met today (Sunday) in Paris with Iran’s crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, for a conversation focused on Iran’s future, strengthening ties between the Iranian people and the Jewish people, and a vision for renewing diplomatic relations between Israel and a democratic Iran in the future.

During the meeting, the two emphasized their shared hope of seeing Iran become a free country and the importance of laying the groundwork for cooperation between the two nations already now, even before a change in regime. Adams expressed optimism about Iran’s future and said to Pahlavi: "We are discussing the hope for the Iranian people’s freedom and liberation, after they have suffered for many years and longed for freedom. I believe this will happen in the very near future. The entire Jewish people supports your vision for a free, pluralistic, representative, and democratic Iran, and we will stand by your side shoulder to shoulder."

Pahlavi replied that the vision they presented is not a new idea, but one rooted in the historic connection between the two peoples: "What we are seeking to achieve in the 21st century actually began 2,500 years ago. Iran and Israel are the only two countries in the world that share a Biblical bond."

Later, the crown prince addressed the struggle taking place inside Iran: "Thousands of Iranians have been killed recently. They did not die so that the Strait would remain open or for the sake of a nuclear agreement. They died for freedom. We have always benefited from the support of Jews around the world and of Israelis in Iran’s struggle for liberty, and for that we are deeply grateful."

According to Pahlavi, once the current regime and the threat it poses are gone, Iran can be rebuilt with the help of the international community. He also invited Adams to come to Tehran in the future to look at possible sites for new Israeli and Iranian embassies.

Adams replied that he intends to do so when conditions allow: "I am a real estate entrepreneur. That is how I made my living. My hope is to arrive in Tehran very soon and find a property where the Israeli embassy will be established."

As a symbolic gesture, Adams presented Pahlavi with two mezuzot made of Jerusalem stone: "I brought two mezuzot—one that I hope we will affix together at the Israeli embassy in Tehran, and the other will be placed at the Iranian embassy in Jerusalem." The mezuzah cases include scrolls written by an Israeli *sofer stam* of Iranian descent, with the goal of expressing the connection between Jerusalem and Iran. At the end of the meeting, the two agreed to remain in contact and work to strengthen relations between the Iranian people and the Jewish people.