What Is Crypto-Judaism and Why Is Mashhad Unique?
Crypto-Judaism connects to the forced conversions of Jews in Spain and Portugal. This happened after the pogroms of 1391 and the rise of the Inquisition. In these areas, Jews publicly adopted Christianity. At the same time, they secretly kept their Jewish beliefs and practices.
A similar story unfolded in the Islamic world. The Jewish community in Mashhad (or Meshed) serves as a striking example. Their experience highlights a powerful case of Islamic crypto-Judaism. It shows remarkable religious resilience.
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How Did the Jewish Community of Mashhad Begin?
Jews have been in Mashhad since the mid-18th century. In the 1740s, Nader Shah, a Sunni Muslim ruler, made it his capital. Distrusting the local population, he sought loyal residents to secure his military gains from India.
Around forty Jewish families were moved from the Caspian Sea area. Some settled nearby, while others made their way into Mashhad. After Nader Shah’s assassination in 1747, the Jews consolidated in Mashhad, which became a key commercial and religious hub.
How Did Jews and Muslims Coexist Before 1839?
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Jews in Mashhad seemed to thrive. They built synagogues, schools, and a bustling trade network. Jewish merchants actively traded goods like furs and hides.
A Christian missionary visiting in the 1830s reported good relations between Jews and Muslims. Yet, other accounts reveal a more complicated picture. Jews lived in a segregated area and faced hostility at times, showing that communal harmony was fragile.
What Happened During the Pogrom of March 26, 1839?
A turning point for Mashhadi Jews came on March 26, 1839, during a Shiʿa pilgrimage. Foreign soldiers were present, heightening tensions. Rumors spread that Jews had desecrated the holiday by slaughtering a dog—an allegation that incited violence.
This led to a pogrom. Jewish homes were attacked, about 35 Jews were killed, synagogues burned, and Torah scrolls destroyed. Six Jewish girls were kidnapped and brought to the Imam Jumuʿa, the city’s religious leader, who reportedly married two of them.
Afterward, the Jewish community faced an ultimatum: convert to Islam or die. Around 2,400 Jews converted under duress that day.
Who Were the “Jadid al-Islam”?
After conversion, the Jews of Mashhad were called Jadid al-Islam, meaning “New Muslims.” This term parallels “New Christians,” used for converted Jews in Iberia.
About 400 families, even after converting, quietly kept Jewish traditions for nearly a century. Publicly, they adopted Muslim names and attended mosques. They kept kosher in private. They prayed secretly, observed Shabbat, and celebrated Passover and Yom Kippur. They also married within their community.
How Did Crypto-Judaism Survive Under Continued Persecution?
Even after converting, Mashhadi Jews faced suspicion and violence. Pogroms occurred again in 1891 and 1902, showing that conversion did not end antisemitism. The community lived in tension, balancing public conformity with private faith.
Some families left Mashhad. They settled in places like Herat (Afghanistan), Bukhara, India, South Africa, London, and later Israel. These migrations helped preserve Mashhadi Jewish identity outside Iran.
When Were the Jews of Mashhad Able to Reclaim Their Identity?
In the early 20th century, the Pahlavi dynasty brought some modernization and less persecution. During this time, Mashhadi Jews began to openly identify as Jewish again. Synagogues were built in Mashhad and Tehran, where many families moved.
However, this period of stability was brief.
Why Did the Mashhadi Jewish Community Leave Iran?
Israel’s founding in 1948 led to increased hostility toward Jews in the Muslim world, including Mashhad. Of about 2,500 Jews in 1948, only around 30 remained by 1973.
Many Mashhadi Jews moved to Israel. Others built lively communities, especially in Great Neck, New York. There, a strong Mashhadi presence remains.
What Makes the Story of the Jews of Mashhad So Remarkable?
The Jews of Mashhad faced forced conversion, violence, and over a century of crypto-Judaism under threat. Despite immense pressure, they preserved their identity through generations.
Their story shows Jewish endurance. It shows us that Jewish continuity thrives through quiet prayers, secret rituals, and close community bonds.
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He is a scholar known for his sophisticated yet accessible lectures on Jewish history, watched by thousands of viewers daily on YouTube. The author of seven books on Jewish history and thought, he earned his PhD from the University of Toronto and held visiting and post-doctoral positions at Harvard, Cornell, Oxford and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
