Episode 134: Alan Niku "The Forgotten History of Persian-Jewish Hakhamim"
About this episode
Alan Niku discusses the rich and diverse history of Persian-Jewish hakhamim and the importance of preserving their legacy.
In this episode of Judaism Demystified, Alan Niku—better known as The Dreamy Kalimi—shares what first pulled him into preserving and spotlighting Persian Jewish history through his Instagram and YouTube work. He gives a clear snapshot of what makes Iranian Jewry so distinct within the broader Jewish world. Alan highlights a core theme in his research: Persian Jewish heritage was never one-dimensional. It included rationalists, mystics, poets, philosophers, halakhists, and community leaders whose voices shaped their communities but were later forgotten or overlooked. He explains why that diversity faded from memory and what is lost when those voices disappear. The conversation then turns to two figures who capture this intellectual range—Rabbi Yehuda ben Elazar (the Riba) and Mollah Siman-Tov Melamed. Alan discusses why these hakhamim resonate with him and what their teachings reveal about the depth of Persian-Jewish thought. Before we wrap up, he gives us a look at the projects he’s working on to revive, translate, and reintroduce these texts and ideas to a new generation. You don't want to miss this riveting discussion. --- *This episode is dedicated to the refua shelema of…
People in this episode
Hosts: Ben Koren, Benzi Siouni
Guest: Alan Niku
Topics covered
- Persian Jewish history
- intellectual diversity
- forgotten hakhamim
- Mizrahi culture
- cultural preservation
Keywords
- Persian Jewry
- hakhamim
- Jewish history
- cultural heritage
- Mizrahi culture
- Rabbi Yehuda ben Elazar
- Mollah Siman-Tov Melamed
Mentioned in this episode
Places: San Luis Obispo, California, Los Angeles
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