166 - ketab farsi

166
14
30 Years After:
“We have unpacked our bags.
We are ready to act.”
By: Nicole Behnam*
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not
enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”
Russell Taylor
From left to right: Mona Shemtoub (Shofar photographer), Nicole Behnam
(Shofar news correspondent), Kayvan Mottahedeh and Jennifer Shirazi (conference attendees)
Have you ever asked yourself
if you are truly politically
inclined? Have you ever read or
heard about an issue you wanted to
know more about, but did not know
where to seek more information?
Have you wanted to make a
difference but simply could not
figure out how to get involved in
the exertion of our city’s policies?
On October 10 more than 1,300
people—young professionals,
students, parents, and even
grandparents—attended the second
biennial 30 Years After conference,
where these questions, along with
several others, were answered by
some of the greatest thinkers and
leaders in our community.
There were nine different
breakout sessions between the
morning, afternoon, and evening
plenary sessions. Topics that were
discussed included the future of the
Jewish community, local and state
politics, philanthropy and activism,
and foreign affairs related to Iran
and Israel. In addition, there was a
voter registration table, along with
30 exhibitor booths from leading
Jewish and civic organizations.
“Per capita, we are
arguably the most driven and
successful minority in the greater
LA area, if not in the state,” said
Dr. Ebbie Soroudi, a supporter of
30 Years After. “We are among
some of the most influential group
of professionals, intellectuals, and
business minds. It is unfortunate we
have not been more involved with
politics thus far.”
When Rabbi Wolpe of
Sinai Temple spoke, he urged
the people sitting in the Century
Plaza ballroom to begin living
for themselves and stop worrying
about everyone else’s perception
of them. He went on to dissect a
rampant notion he believed many
Persian Jews uphold. The notion
that we are so gifted and that “[we]
have succeeded beyond the dreams
of any immigrant community that
has ever come to this country.” And
that is all true said Wolpe, who also
noted the economic “fertility” of the
United States 30+ years prior.
“The opposite is also true,”
said Wolpe. “There is a deep sense
of being discriminated against,
unappreciated—that people don’t
realize what the Persian community
is, and people condemn it from
outside without understanding it.”
In other words, with the tremendous
pride comes tremendous insecurity.
“You need not feel either,” said
Wolpe. “Your accomplishments
speak for themselves, and the
inflation of self that sometimes
masks insecurity is no longer
necessary. The question is not: how
[does] the world regard you? The
question is: what will you do with
what you have done?”
Carly Fiorina, former
Republican candidate for the United