From Babylon to Beverly Hills: The Exodus of Iran’s Jews (2003)

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran prompted a mass exodus of Jews who had emigrated to America centuries earlier. Facing uncertainty and fearing religious persecution under Khomeini's rule, approximately 80,000 of Iran's 100,000 Jews fled the country. This documentary follows those who rebuilt their community in Los Angeles. Iranian Jewish families share their experiences in Iran, detailing how escalating hostility compelled them to leave in search of a better future for their children. They express concerns about their children navigating a new culture, distinct from their own. Meanwhile, young Iranian adults grapple with balancing parental expectations and preserving their Iranian Jewish heritage while forging individual identities in modern America.