Reading: An article from DW Persian about the situation of the Jewish minority in Iran.
Listening: An episode from the Iranian “Movarekh Podcast” discussing the history of the Jewish community in Iran.
Subject of Conversation: #1: The Jewish people and its ancient history; #2: The creation of the state of Israel and the Palestinians (مردم یهود و تاریخ باستانی‌شان؛ تأسیس کشور اسرائیل و فلسطینی‌ها)
In this session, students will engage in a two-part conversation. First, they will reflect on the historical journey of the Jewish people, with a focus on their ancient presence in Iran and other parts of the world. Second, students will explore more contemporary issues surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel and its impact on Palestinians. The conversation will encourage students to express historical facts, personal opinions, and contrasting viewpoints using appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures in Persian. Through this dialogue, students will practice articulating complex political and historical ideas while strengthening their fluency and active listening skills.
Homework:
- Complete reading today’s article and study the vocabulary.
- Watch the video and select an interesting 2-minute segment (don’t forget to mention the timecode). Transcribe the passage, then identify and translate any unfamiliar vocabulary.
Vocabulary (Reading):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| به سر بردن | be sar bordan | to reside, to spend (time) |
| مداقه | modāqqe | close attention, scrutiny |
| خاخام | xāxām | rabbi |
| ارشد | aršad | senior, superior |
| مستقر | mostaqar | located, settled |
| مختلطی | moxtalet | mixed, composite |
| جوامع (مفرد: جامع) | javāme‘ (sing. jāme‘) | communities |
| کنیسه | kanise | synagogue |
| جنبه | janbe | aspect |
| مشابه | mošābeh | similar |
| به چاپ رسیدن | be čāp residan | to be published |
| شک و تردید | šakk o tardid | doubt and uncertainty |
| مبصرین (مفرد: مبصر) | mobserin (sing. mobser) | observers |
| ادعا کردن | edd'ā kardan | to claim |
| نشر شدن | našr šodan | to be published |
| نفوس (مفرد: نفس) | nofus (sing. nafs) | population, souls |
| تشکیل دادن | taškil dādan | to form, to establish |
| بهبود | behbud | improvement |
| انکشاف | enkešāf | development; discovery |
| متقاعد کردن | motaqā‘ed kardan | to persuade |
| مرخص بودن | moraxxas budan | to be on leave |
| بازسازی | bāzsāzi | reconstruction, restoration |
| میکوه | mikve | mikveh (Jewish ritual bath) |
| حمام | hammām | bathhouse |
| غسل | γosl | ritual bath |
| اطلاق شدن | etlāq šodan | to be applied, to be attributed |
| از دید | az did-e | from the perspective of |
| پنداشته شدن | pendāšte šodan | to be assumed, to be considered |
| ذبح | zabh | slaughter (ritual or sacrificial) |
| مطابق | motābeq-e | in accordance with |
Vocabulary (Listening):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| پرفراز و نشیب | porfarāz o našib | full of ups and downs |
| زادگاه | zādgāh | birthplace |
| پیامبر | payāmbar | prophet |
| سراغ کسی/چیزی رفتن | sorāγ-e kasi/čizi raftan | to go after someone / something, to look for someone / something |
| بنی | bani | sons of..., tribe of... |
| حضرت | hazrat | His Holiness, title of respect |
| عبری | ‘ebri | Hebrew |
| فرات | forāt | Euphrates |
| عبور کردن | ‘obur kardan | to cross |
| اصحاب (مفرد: صاحب) | ashāb (sing. sāheb) | companions, disciples |
| تورات | tourāt | Torah |
| فرعن | fer‘oun | Pharaoh |
| مختصر | moxtasar | summary; brief, concise |
| شکل‌گیری | šeklgiri | formation |
| نگاه انداختن | negāh andāxtan | to glance, to take a look |
| برگزیدن | bargozidan | to choose, to select |
| کثیر | kasir | numerous |
| قلیل | qalil | few |
| قسم خوردن | qasam xordan | to swear |
| به جای آوردن | be jāy āvardan | to fulfill |
| بندگی | bandegi | slavery |
| نجات دادن | nejāt dādan | to save, to rescue |
| عهد | ‘ahd | covenant, pact |
| همانا | hamānā | indeed, truly |
| خزانه | xazāne | treasury |
| جمیع | jami‘ | all, entire |
| از آن کسی بودن | az ān-e kasi budan | to belong to someone |
| امت | ommat | religious community, ummah |
| آیات (مفرد: آیت) | āyāt (sing. āyat) | verses (of scripture) |
| مقدس | moqaddas | sacred, holy |
| معتقد بودن | mo‘taqed budan | to believe |
| پیوند | peyvand | bond, connection |
| ناگسستنی | nāgosastani | unbreakable |
| فرقه | ferqe | sect |
| خلق کردن | xalq kardan | to create |
| وظایف (مفرد: وظیفه) | vazāyef (sing. vazife) | duties, responsibilities |
Weekend Presentation: For this weekend’s presentation, each student will choose an ethnic group from Iran (or even beyond - the Greater Iran) that was not discussed during the week, such as the Baluchis, Gilaks, Assyrians, or others. Students will prepare a 10-minute presentation in Persian, introducing the group’s geographic location, key cultural and linguistic characteristics, and offering a brief overview of their historical background and current situation. The aim is to apply the analytical and linguistic skills developed throughout the week to explore new communities, while expanding vocabulary and practicing clear, structured speech in Persian.