Cyrus Declaration event

Commemorating the Cyrus Declaration

  •   The first declaration of Human rights in history
  • 8/10/2015
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    Special Edition of the Cyrus Declaration Israeli Stamp Special Edition of the Cyrus Declaration Israeli Stamp
     
     
    If only today’s Iran had learned about human rights from its own history.
    It's hard to ignore the contrast between today’s Iran, which violates human rights on a daily basis, and the Iran under the rule of Cyrus the Great, who presented to the world the first Human Rights declaration.

    Today,the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN and the Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York hosted together an event to commemorate the King Cyrus Declaration of Human Rights, which included lectures by world renowned experts in the field of Iranian Studies such as Dr. Irving Finkel, Prof. Fariborz Mokhtari and Prof. David Menashri, and featured a special edition Israeli stamp collection of the Cyrus declaration.​

    Remarks by Ambassador Prosor:

    Doostaneh aziz, mehmanan-eh geramee. 

    Az tarafeh keshvar-eh Esrail az shomah tashakor mikonam,

    Va Az tashreef farmah-ee-yeh shomah emshab, sepas gozaram. 

    Dear friends, esteemed guests. 

    On behalf of the State of Israel, I thank you,

    and I am grateful to you for being here tonight

    Thank you Shahram,

    You are a true leader in the Iranian Jewish community here in NY. Your outreach on behalf of the community has introduced so many people to the unique qualities and special character of Iranian Jews.

    Friends,

    It is a pleasure to be here with you tonight, in the presence of distinguished scholars, diplomats, and of course, with members of the Iranian-American Jewish community. You know the Bible refers to Jews as a stiff-necked people, perhaps that is why so many Persian Jews chose to settle in Great Neck, New York.

    As you know, Jews lived in Persia for so long that we read about them in the Bible. Maybe the most famous story is the one we read about Persian Jews Mordechai and Esther who refused to submit to anti-Semitism, stood up proudly as Jews, and acted on behalf of the Jews of Ancient Persia.

    The Iranian-American Jewish Federation has carried on this proud tradition, standing tall as Jews and as Americans, and working to support Israel, and Jews around the world.

    When the Jews of Persia came to America, they left the country their ancestors have lived in for over 2,000 years, but they carried with them their proud tradition and their wits. Here, they have established a thriving community and a reputation as successful businessmen and skilled negotiators. As we know well from current events, Iranians really do know how to negotiate.

    Tonight, we honor the decision to celebrate the Cyrus Declaration on a new Israeli stamp. This choice is a stamp of approval for the principles of the King Cyrus Declaration. Before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, before the Declaration of the Rights of Man, before the Magna Carta, it was history’s first declaration of religious freedom and tolerance.

    Cyrus the Great believed that all peoples of the Persian Empire could live side by side in peace. He lifted the iron curtain, and declared that all exiled peoples could return to their homeland.  

    Jews of Ancient Persia heeded his call, and returned to the Land of Israel. 2500 years later, Jews from around the world were again inspired by the vision of Cyrus to return to our land once more, to build the modern state of Israel.

    As we celebrate the great achievement of a Persian king, and a landmark moment in Persian and Jewish history, we can only regret that today, there is no King Cyrus sitting in Tehran.

    The people of this great and ancient civilization known for tolerance and respect live under a ruthless, theocratic and regressive regime. We continue to hope that one day the Iranian people will be able return to the tolerance and freedom promised by the Cyrus Declaration- the most progressive statement of its time.  We must look to the past for the principles which inspire us in the present, and will lead us to a better future.