An Iranian Jewish boy reading the Torah in the biggest synagogue of Tehran.

An Iranian Jewish man praying during Arvin's Bar Mitzvah at the biggest Synagogue in Tehran.

Arvin celebrating his Bar Mitzvah and reading the Torah. He is surrounded by the Rabbi , his father and a friend.

The Rabbi advising Arvin during his Bar Mitzvah.

Arvin and the Rabbi during his Bar Mitzvah in the biggest synagogue in Tehran.

Arvin , learning to read the Torah for his Bar Mitzvah. His standing on carved altar carved in wood and gold in the biggest Synagogue of Yussef Abad, in the North of Teheran.

Jewish boys reading the Torah during Arvin's Bar-Mitzvah. After the ceremony, guests gather around a sumptuous buffet. On the menu: traditional Iranian dishes and ... wine. Within the Islamic Republic, alcohol is prohibited for muslims, but tolerated for religious minorities like Jews and Christians.

Arvin , a 13 year old Iranian Jewish boy learning to read the Torah for his Bar Mitzvah at a Synagogue in Yussef Abad, in the North Of Tehran.

An Iranian Jewish boy reading the Torah in the synagogue of Yussef Abad in the North of Tehran.

Arvin carrying the Torah scroll with his father for his Bar Mitzvah at the biggest Synagogue in Tehran.

Jewish boys reading the Torah during Arvin's Bar-Mitzva . Although Jews can be discriminated against , those who decided to stay declared feeling more secure in Iran than in other countries such as Israel.

Arvin waiting to start celebrating his Bar Mitzvah in the biggest synagogue of Tehran located in Yussef Abad neighborhood.

Recognized as a minority in the 1979 Constitution, Jews are represented in the Iranian Parliament by a jewish member.
Despite their patriotism toward Iran, Jews's loyalty remain, in the eyes of the regime, questionable.

Arvin, a 13 years old Iranian Jewish boy celebrating his Bar Mitzvah at the biggest Synagogue in Yussef Abad in the North of Teheran.
Out of the 80 000 Jews present in Iran under the Shah, there are barely 10,000 today. This religious minority has its Member of Parliament, schools ... but must live in discretion.

Arvin 's friends reading the Torah. They are all educated in Jewish schools. Only five Jewish schools remain in Tehran. They subsist thanks to grants from the Ministry of Education.

The menorah, one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith, in the Yousef Abad Synagogue.