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Sasson Naim Recounts His Life in Saqqez, Iran, and in Israel, 2018

Sasson Naim was born in Saqqez in Iranian Kurdistan, Iran, in 1934. His maternal grandparents also lived in Saqqez, and he was a beloved grandson and a beloved son. Sasson's father was dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing until an order came from King Reza Shah according to which men should dress in European clothing. As a child, Sasson studied in a "heder" with Hacham Shmuel Bruchim, who taught both Sasson's father and his grandfather, and even lived to see the Bar-mitzvah of Sasson's son in Israel. Hacham Shmuel was the one who taught Torah to all members of the community, and was a leader and mentor. When Sasson was 11 years old, the Shah of Iran issued a decree that all children should attend Iranian schools. Sasson was sent in the summer to study in a preparatory class for the 6th grade, passed the test and was accepted. In Iran, the students are seated in the classroom according to their level of achievement - in the first row sit the outstanding ones, and in the last row the struggling students. Sasson initially sat in the last row, and soon found himself in the first row, and was even the first student in the school, and the one who led all the students in line to welcome the visiting Shah. When the State of Israel was established, they realized that the days of Redemption had arrived, and they rose as one man to go to Jerusalem. They made their way to Tehran, were housed in the Jewish cemetery, and slowly left for Israel. Sasson's family arrived in 1950 when he was about 16 years old. They arrived at Shaar HaAliya transit camp and lived in tents, from there to the Pardes Hana transit camp (maabara), and finally fulfilled their dream and settled in Jerusalem - and were housed at Talpiot maabara, this time in shacks. Integrating in Israel was difficult. Sasson studied for two years at a school, and then continued to study accounting. When he was offered a job at President Ephraim Katzir's office, he worked as a volunteer. His father told him that he must not take money from the President.  And so he served as a consultant for financial matters and as an honorary accountant at the Office of the Presidents of Israel from the time of President Ephraim Katzir to the days of President Chaim Herzog.

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This testimony was produced as part of Seeing the Voices – the Israeli national project for the documentation of the heritage of Jews of Arab lands and Iran. The project was initiated by the Israeli Ministry for Social Equality, in cooperation with The Heritage Wing of the Israeli Ministry of Education, The Yad Ben Zvi Institute, and The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot.
The Oster Visual Documentation Center, ANU - Museum of the Jewish People. The film was produced as part of the Seeing the Voices project, 2019

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Sasson Naim Recounts His Life in Saqqez, Iran, and in Israel, 2018

Sasson Naim was born in Saqqez in Iranian Kurdistan, Iran, in 1934. His maternal grandparents also lived in Saqqez, and he was a beloved grandson and a beloved son. Sasson's father was dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing until an order came from King Reza Shah according to which men should dress in European clothing. As a child, Sasson studied in a "heder" with Hacham Shmuel Bruchim, who taught both Sasson's father and his grandfather, and even lived to see the Bar-mitzvah of Sasson's son in Israel. Hacham Shmuel was the one who taught Torah to all members of the community, and was a leader and mentor. When Sasson was 11 years old, the Shah of Iran issued a decree that all children should attend Iranian schools. Sasson was sent in the summer to study in a preparatory class for the 6th grade, passed the test and was accepted. In Iran, the students are seated in the classroom according to their level of achievement - in the first row sit the outstanding ones, and in the last row the struggling students. Sasson initially sat in the last row, and soon found himself in the first row, and was even the first student in the school, and the one who led all the students in line to welcome the visiting Shah. When the State of Israel was established, they realized that the days of Redemption had arrived, and they rose as one man to go to Jerusalem. They made their way to Tehran, were housed in the Jewish cemetery, and slowly left for Israel. Sasson's family arrived in 1950 when he was about 16 years old. They arrived at Shaar HaAliya transit camp and lived in tents, from there to the Pardes Hana transit camp (maabara), and finally fulfilled their dream and settled in Jerusalem - and were housed at Talpiot maabara, this time in shacks. Integrating in Israel was difficult. Sasson studied for two years at a school, and then continued to study accounting. When he was offered a job at President Ephraim Katzir's office, he worked as a volunteer. His father told him that he must not take money from the President.  And so he served as a consultant for financial matters and as an honorary accountant at the Office of the Presidents of Israel from the time of President Ephraim Katzir to the days of President Chaim Herzog.

-------------------------

This testimony was produced as part of Seeing the Voices – the Israeli national project for the documentation of the heritage of Jews of Arab lands and Iran. The project was initiated by the Israeli Ministry for Social Equality, in cooperation with The Heritage Wing of the Israeli Ministry of Education, The Yad Ben Zvi Institute, and The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot.
The Oster Visual Documentation Center, ANU - Museum of the Jewish People. The film was produced as part of the Seeing the Voices project, 2019