Disguised Faith: How the Jews of Mashhad Practiced Judaism in Secret

Gradual Change in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

By the late 1800s, conditions began to shift. Increased contact with European powers and changing political dynamics in Persia created slightly more space for religious minorities.

Some Mashhadi Jews began to quietly reconnect with broader Jewish communities.

Travel and trade allowed:

  • Contact with Jews in other cities
  • Access to Jewish texts and education
  • Opportunities to leave Mashhad

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