Yousef Hamadani Cohen
Encyclopedia
Yousef Hamadani Cohen is the chief rabbi and spiritual leader
for the Jewish community of Iran
(Iranian Jews
). He has served in that position since January 1994.
In August 2000, Chief Rabbi
Hamadani Cohen met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami
for the first time. In 2003, Cohen and Member of Parliament
Morris Motamed met with Khatami at Yusef Abad Synagogue
which was the first time a President of Iran
had visited a synagogue
since the Islamic Revolution. For the event, Cohen led the opening the Torah scroll ark
and the reciting of prayers. In 2000, four rabbis, including rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss
of Neturei Karta
, held talks with Cohen about the 13 Persian Jews
who had been accused of working for Israel
by the government of Iran.
Spiritual leader
Spiritual leader is a form of title that is used to refer to religious leaders.In Buddhism, spiritual leaders are usually the people who have attained high level of spiritual awareness. Those spiritual teachers can guide people on their path toward spiritual awakening.Spiritual Leader may be a...
for the Jewish community of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(Iranian Jews
Persian Jews
Persian Jews , are Jews historically associated with Iran, traditionally known as Persia in Western sources.Judaism is one of the oldest religions practiced in Iran. The Book of Esther contains some references to the experiences of Jews in Persia...
). He has served in that position since January 1994.
In August 2000, Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
Hamadani Cohen met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami
Mohammad Khatami
Sayyid Mohammad Khātamī is an Iranian scholar, philosopher, Shiite theologian and Reformist politician. He served as the fifth President of Iran from August 2, 1997 to August 3, 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture in both the 1980s and 1990s...
for the first time. In 2003, Cohen and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Morris Motamed met with Khatami at Yusef Abad Synagogue
Yusef Abad Synagogue
The Yusef Abad Synagogue is one of the largest synagogues in Tehran, Iran. The official name of the Yusef Abad Synagogue is Sukat Shalom Synagogue. The original building that housed the synagogue was completed in the early 1950s. With the growth of the Jewish population of the capital especially...
which was the first time a President of Iran
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
had visited a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
since the Islamic Revolution. For the event, Cohen led the opening the Torah scroll ark
Ark (synagogue)
The Torah ark or ark in a synagogue is known in Hebrew as the Aron Kodesh by the Ashkenazim and as the Hekhál amongst most Sefardim. It is generally a receptacle, or ornamental closet, which contains each synagogue's Torah scrolls...
and the reciting of prayers. In 2000, four rabbis, including rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss
Yisroel Dovid Weiss
Yisroel Dovid Weiss , a United States Haredi rabbi, is an activist and spokesman for a branch of Neturei Karta, an anti-Zionist grouping of Haredi Jews...
of Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta is a Haredi Jewish group formally created in Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine, in 1938, splitting off from Agudas Yisroel...
, held talks with Cohen about the 13 Persian Jews
Persian Jews
Persian Jews , are Jews historically associated with Iran, traditionally known as Persia in Western sources.Judaism is one of the oldest religions practiced in Iran. The Book of Esther contains some references to the experiences of Jews in Persia...
who had been accused of working for Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
by the government of Iran.