In the early hours of April 7, 2026, Tehran’s historic Rafi-Nia synagogue was hit by three Israeli air strikes, reducing the building and a neighboring structure to rubble. Marjan, a local resident, arrived at Malek Lane near Tehran’s center shortly after 3:30 a.m. to find emergency services, the Red Crescent, Basij volunteers, and members of the Revolutionary Guards clearing debris. Residents who had fled in panic earlier returned to salvage “what was left of their lives,” she said.
The Israeli army described the synagogue as collateral damage, expressing regret for the destruction and stating that it used precision munitions while taking measures to minimize civilian risk.
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran was home to over 100,000 Jews. Miriam Nissimov, a senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University and author of "From Cyrus to Khomeini: The Jews of Iran," noted that Iran still hosts the largest indigenous Jewish community in the Middle East outside Israel. However, she added that while Jews are free to practice their religion, they do not enjoy full equality as citizens, facing limitations in accessing certain civil service and senior positions. Amnesty International reports that individuals registered as Muslim at birth cannot legally convert to Judaism.
Many Iranian Jews maintain close religious and family ties to Israel, with some having relatives living there. The recent events have sparked anxiety and concern within the community, threatening their psychological and social security. According to Human Rights in Iran, the current climate of pressure and discrimination is unlike anything seen since the 1979 revolution.
Communication has become difficult since the initial conflict, with some community members using foreign SIM cards or avoiding calls from Israeli numbers.
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