The Next Generation of Persian Jews: Reclaiming an Identity

The Next Generation of Persian Jews: Reclaiming an Identity

12pm PST

We encourage everyone to watch the presentation live. It will not be available to view as we are currently working behind the scenes to improve the user experience.

These young Jewish Persian activists are changing their community and the world by addressing taboos head on and breaking boundaries.

Join JQ’s Arya Marvazy, Arielle Yael Mokhtarzadeh of 30 Years After and Nicole Nowparvar from Chaya and Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, as they discuss what it means to adapt culture and identity in a complicated world.

Nicole Nowparvar is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her private practice in Los Angeles focuses on helping individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma and grief. She believes transitional periods of life can be tough and can also catapult us into transformational, growth opportunities. She is also the co-founder and Executive Director of Chaya Community- a sacred space for Jewish Iranians to be uplifted by meaningful connection and deepen their authentic self-expression.

Arya Marvazy, M.S.O.B. Born and raised in Tehrangeles, CA, Arya earned his BA in Psychology at UC San Diego, and a master's in Organizational Behavior from NYU. Thirteen years into his non-profit career, he currently serves as the Managing Director of JQ, or Jewish Queers, an LGBTQ+ and Jewish organization focused on education, outreach, and support in service of inclusion and equality for all. In 2017, Arya launched the JQ Persian Pride Fellowship, an interfaith LGBTQ+ and ally initiative training the next generation of leaders. His dedication to the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities earned him a spot on LA Jewish Journal's 30 Under 30 list, IranWire's 50 Iranian-Americans You Should Know, and most recently the 2019 JPro Young Professional Award.

Arielle Yael Mokhtarzadeh serves as the Co-President of 30 Years After. She has served on the Board since 2019, and is a graduate of the Maher and Moradi Berkowitz Public Service Fellowships. Arielle currently works as an Associate in Global Programming at the Milken Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank committed to helping people build meaningful lives by catalyzing practical, scalable solutions to global challenges and leveraging the expertise of top experts, innovators, and influencers from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints to construct programs and policy initiatives. Arielle is a proud alumnus of UCLA, where she studied Communications, Public Affairs and Israel Studies, and served as Undergraduate Student Body President. Arielle also serves on the Board of the Magbit Foundation and is a leader of Iranian American Jews for Racial Justice.

Rabbi Sherre Hirsch is the Chief Innovation Officer for American Jewish University. Rabbi Hirsch made headlines as the first female rabbi at Sinai Temple, the largest Conservative congregation on the west coast. She served as Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hillel International, where she created and developed Hillelwell, an initiative for Hillels worldwide to become the recognized address for preventative mental health. A thought leader on spirituality and religion, Rabbi Hirsch has appeared on the Today Show, ABC News, Extra, and PBS, among other outlets, and has been a contributor to Time.com, Oprah Magazine, the Jewish Journal, the Hollywood Journal, and more. She is the author of “Thresholds, How to Live Fearlessly and Regret Free” (featured in “Hot Type” in Vanity Fair), and “We Plan, God Laughs, What to do When Life Hits You Over the Head” (recognized on Amazon’s Top 100 List). Rabbi Hirsch was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.