Arthur Kakuriev from Ramla, Israel, asks: «Is it true that an Iranian Jewish surgeon saved the hand of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, from amputation?»
Rafael Nektalov, Editor-in-Chief of The Bukharian Times newspaper, answers: «Yes. A Jewish doctor saved the Ayatollah. He was the only one who offered an alternative to the amputation of the right hand and thereby earned the favor of the Supreme Leader himself. This was told to me by Chief Rabbi Cohen from Tehran. Khamenei supported his son’s candidacy for the position of chief rabbi of the Tehran synagogue.»
There are photographs of Khamenei posing for a photoshoot. In particular, he participated in the annual tree planting as part of «Nature Week, » which is held in Iran during the Nowruz holiday. For the photoshoot, he was given a shovel in his left hand, and he held it with his right hand, seemingly planting a tree. He also watered it with his left hand.
Throughout the years, Iranian rulers have demonstrated a positive attitude toward the country’s Jewish community. Notably, on February 8, 2003, President Mohammad Khatami visited the Yousef Abad Synagogue, becoming the first Iranian president to cross the threshold of a synagogue since the Islamic Revolution. The meeting with the President was attended by Iran’s Chief Rabbi Yousef Hamadani Cohen and community representatives Haroun Yashayaei (film producer and former chairman of the board of the Tehran Jewish community) and Morris Motamed (a politician who served in parliament). In honor of this event, Chief Rabbi Cohen opened the Aron Kodesh with a Torah scroll for Khatami and led prayers.
Iranian Jews in Israel and the United States have achieved great success. For example, Moshe Katsav, former President of Israel, was born in Yazd, Iran.