Judeo-Persian literature (Modern Persian written in Hebrew characters) is likely the largest untapped group within Jewish and Persian vernacular texts. Manuscripts are scattered worldwide, found in the bottoms of drawers in people's homes and some in libraries, yet they remain untranslated and largely inaccessible.

Alan Niku, a filmmaker and writer who began researching Persian Jewish history around ten years ago in hopes of preserving it, joins Millie in discussing his findings on translating Judeo Persian manuscripts which includes poetry and philosophical teachings from writers such as Shahin Shirazi, Yehuda Ben Elazar, Amina and others. Aside from his independent work researching Persian Jewish history, Alan shares his work as a linguist, documenting various Judeo Persian languages and teaching Neo-Aramaic, which he decided to learn after discovering the language in his paternal grandfather's family line.

You can find Alan's lectures on related topics here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYsvRszbe9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXh1D1ojves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yxmn-dLmeQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkCiEtk-4Gs

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_dreamy_kalimi/

The Jewish Language Project:
https://www.jewishlanguages.org/jewish-language-project

Intro music: Emrani's Selichot sang by Nasser Zar 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9kwUSNG9Fg&ab_channel=ShlomoShawnAziz

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In this episode, Millie speaks with Matthew Nouriel (sometimes known as The Empress Mizrahi) an activist, content creator, and drag queen from the Persian Jewish diaspora. Matthew is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Iranians, Jews and the state of Israel. Together they discuss the connections between a free Iran and the fight against Hamas/the Islamic Republic's terrorist proxies, authentic vs. inauthentic activism, what's next for Persian Jews, and Matthew's families unique migration story.

Follow Matthew on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewnouriel/?hl=en

Learn more about JIMENA: https://jimena.org/

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Zoei Cohen, a spiritual guide and teacher, offers her perspective on Esther's transformation from orphan to Queen in the Persian empire by taking a closer look at the original Hebrew text to capture the nuances often lost in translation to other languages. She simultaneously derives a radically positive interpretation of the story and relates it in ways of how we should live today.

Intro music: Aramaic Lesson by HULAULA

More about Zoei 

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In this episode, Maxine (from episode 3 Ancestral Healing) returns to reflect on the lessons from the Book of Esther/Purim from the Torah, which revolves around a Jewish woman in Persia named Esther who becomes Queen in the Persian Empire (5th BCE) and hides her Jewishness in order to survive. When Esther's uncle Mordecai, discovers that an official in court, Haman, has a plan to establish a decree to slay all the Jews in the empire, Esther throws a series of feasts for the King and eventually wins him over and not only embraces her Jewishness but saves the entire population of Jews from persecution in the Persian empire (this is a very brief summary you can find the full text linked below).

We explore how Queen Esther embodies what it means to integrate our Jewish and Persian backgrounds, mind-body connection practices, and divinity: the feminine divine and divine timing.

Full text of Esther:
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/85468

Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTnvCgvuLl0&ab_channel=KamranNeydavoud

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In this episode, Millie delves into the history of the Dardashti family with sisters Danielle and Galeet, the creators of the podcast documentary series, "The Nightingale of Iran." Unveiling the captivating saga of their grandfather, Younes Dardashti, a revered religious Jewish singer in 1950s Iran, who graced the Shah's Palace and radio with his melodious voice, alongside their father, Farid Dardashti, a teen idol on Persian television. 

Together, they unravel the complexities surrounding the stigma attached to "motreb" (musician/entertainer) in Persian Jewish culture, shedding light on the cultural dynamics that led their family to depart Iran at the pinnacle of their fame. Reflecting on their upbringing and the disconnect from their Persian heritage despite a lineage steeped in rich history, they explore the notion of selective memory and the profound significance of asking the right questions, culminating in a poignant journey of self-discovery and understanding.

You can find "The Nightingale of Iran" on all streaming platforms:
https://www.nightingaleofiran.com/

Music featured on this episode is from Galeet's album Monajat.
Song details:
Monajat (feat. Younes Dardashti) · Galeet Dardashti 

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Archival episode from November 25, 2022

In an independent interview, Millie Efraim speaks with Zar Amir Ebrahimi, lead actress of Holy Spider (winner, Best Actress, Cannes)— the uncompromising film noir (dir. Ali Abbasi) painting the life of a serial killer targeting prostitutes in Mashhad, about how she built her character, Islamic fanaticism vis-à-vis sexual perversion, life in exile outside of Iran, the current revolution, and the real Spider Killer's family's response to the controversial film. Zar also shares fascinating anecdotes from behind the scenes of filming. 

Watch the full interview on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0ciUmyDYyk

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In this episode, Maxine Divon shares her personal journey into the self and spirituality for a discussion about the way our ancestral history impacts us. Maxine shares from her personal experience - as a woman in the Persian Jewish community and in the business world -  and from the fields she’s studied including Jungian Psychology, Ancestral Healing, Archetypal Astrology and more recently Kabbalah. Her and Millie unpack various traumas and gifts passed through generations of Persian Jewry, and explore tools for doing this kind of inner work in a self-regulated way, so that everyone is  able to receive the gifts and growth that come from self-inquiry, without reactivating past cycles of wounds.

Mentions:

•  www.MaxineDivon.com or [email protected]
• Rabbi Tirza Firestone - Wounds into Wisdom book
• Caroline Myss - Sacred Contracts book on archetypes
• Terry Real (family pathology quote)

Outline: 

• Introducing Maxine - How we Met, Her Story
• ~7 mins - Persian Jewish story and reclaiming our heritage (Maxine’s 23&Me)
• ~14 mins - What is Ancestral Healing? Rupture & Repair; Ancestral Gifts; Kabbalistic Wisdom; Surviving vs. Thriving
• ~30 mins - Collective healing: introducing Archetypes and the “sister wound”; understanding the trauma vortex; Persian ideas of “ghar” and “aberoo”
• ~50 mins - Carl Jung’s concept of individuation; the ultimate Persian Jewish archetype, Queen Esther!
• ~58 mins - Celebrating the Matriarchs; more on Jungian Individuation vs. Separation; Reframing our Personal Narratives
• ~1:09 Maxine’s Spiritual Journey & Sacred Wound; finding our cosmic light
• ~1:16 Persian Wrap Up ;) & an Invitation to Persian women who want to participate in collective healing; Becoming Butterflies 🦋 

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PGP hosts, Millie Efraim and Natalie Sanandaji, bring on historian Debbie Lechtman to discuss the history of Ancient Judea/the Kingdom of Israel, Jewish presence in the land for the last 3000+ years, the events leading up to 1948, and what is at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Debbie is a Jewish, Israeli, and Latina author, educator, content creator, and artist, specializing in Jewish history and antisemitism. She is well-known in Jewish spaces for condensing complex, multilayered, nuanced, and obscure Jewish history topics into more easily accessible education.

For context, this episode was recorded on November 22nd and the introduction was recorded on November 30th.

You can support Debbie's work and find all sources on her website: https://www.rootsmetals.com/pages/about
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rootsmetals/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rootsmetals
Her most recent blog post: https://www.rootsmetals.com/blogs/news/lies-about-1948

Listen to Natalie's story of surviving the October 7th Massacre:
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6339713888112

Abba Iban Documentary "Israel: A Nation is Born" which Millie refers to footage of Holocaust survivors being rejected at the border of Palestine can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdHQ6NTvq00&list=PLICqGk8IqdAKeCij_HmHPpkI28ckTlwSS

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PGP returns after a 9 month hiatus (no, we did not have babies-sorry/motasefaneh). We discuss our time off the podcast and get into the unspoken, yet known standards of what is "appropriate" when attending a Persian wedding as someone who isn't yet married (so is technically single). We give our own thoughts and share what is normally expected from the Persian community. As always we encourage listeners who'd like to share their experiences anonymously or not by sending us a direct message or email to be featured on an episode.

You can find Millie's natural lip oil at tabiatbeauty.com and @tabiatbeauty

Intro Song: Bishtar Bishtar - Hassan Shamaizadeh 

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PGP returns for an episode where they're joined by Orna Simkhai and three other Persian mothers. They share the story of how they formed We Do Care: Iranian-American Parents of LGBTQ, a community formed in 2013. Orna and her friends also share advice and discuss their own experience with their children coming out.

More info on We Do Care: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/We-Do-Care-Iranian-American-Parents-of-LGBTQ-943104462412560/

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In this episode, Persian comic legend Maz Jobrani comes on PGP to discuss his path to standup and his early education and career experiences, and the ways in which it conflicted with his families expectations at the time. He also shares how he breaks the caricatures often imposed on Middle Eastern talent in Hollywood and gives insight to his approach of raising his kids. 

Check out Maz's Podcast: Back To School With Maz Jobrani

Tour Dates

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