A close-up of the document reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian – a Jewish name meaning cloth weaver.
The short note scrawled on the card suggests his family changed its name to Ahmadinejad when they converted to embrace Islam after his birth.
The Sabourjians traditionally hail from Aradan, Mr Ahmadinejad’s birthplace, and the name derives from “weaver of the Sabour”, the name for the Jewish Tallit shawl in Persia. The name is even on the list of reserved names for Iranian Jews compiled by Iran’s Ministry of the Interior.
Experts last night suggested Mr Ahmadinejad’s track record for hate-filled attacks on Jews could be an overcompensation to hide his past. …
More @ Funny, you don’t look Jewish?
When it is understood that Judaism is simply a religion
and not a specific race or ethnicity it is not that unusual
that one may have multiple religious ancestry. Ahmadinejad
and the Iranian Government has made it clear that they totally
distinguish between Judaism,the religion and Zionism the
political movement. Iranians of the Jewish faith enjoy total
religious freedom in Iran. There is currently an Iranian Jewish member
of parliament. Recently Iranian Jews held a rally in support of Palestinian
rights while expressing their opposition to Zionism. Outside of Europe,
Judaism is simply perceived as a religion. In racial or ethnic terms,the
Falasha Jews of Ethiopia are no different than the other Cushitic Agau
tribes from which they descend. The Berber Moroccan Jews(Schlouch)
are no different than other Berber tribes. At one time the entire nation of Yemen
practiced Judaism. Being that there was no racial, ethnic, tribal or even cultural
differences the “stigma” of being Jewish was only perceived in terms of religion.
In this regard when a Libyan,Egyptian or Iranian Jew abandoned Judaism and
embraced the host or majority religion that individual was no longer perceived
as Jewish. With no racial or ethnic barriers the convert was fully embraced
by the greater nation to which they already belonged. It is also known that Libyan
President Moamar Khadafy has a mother with ” Jewish origins ” . Other than a minor
nostalgic moment of interest ,knowledge of a Jewish ancestor has no effect in
shaping an individual’s religious,tribal or social outlook in that particular part of
the world. The ” revelation ” of a Jewish ancestry on the part of Ahmadinejad would
have no effect on his standing with the average Iranian whether in support or opposition
to the President.
Religion and Culture have confused humans for years.Euro-Americans and Europeans
do have a constricted view of religion,ethnicity,and cultures only creating more division.