Iranian woman’s story illustrates Impact Feb. 8

By DEBORAH MOON

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Angella Nazarian, author of “Life as a Visitor,” considers herself “the new face of what federation does for world Jewry.”

On Feb. 8, Nazarian will share her story of how her Iranian Jewish family came to America and how she came to realize through her travels that home is a state of mind. Nazarian will be the featured speaker at Impact, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s annual women’s campaign event.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Highway. At 7 p.m., women will enjoy dessert and the program. This year’s theme is “Your Story, Our Community, Our World, Your Impact.”

“I think the message the Jewish federation in Portland wants to bring is about the vibrancy and diversity of the Jewish community,” said Nazarian. “Often one individual story is more powerful than statistics. A human story that touches someone is always much more connecting.”

When the Islamic Revolution erupted in Iran in 1979, Nazarian’s father persuaded her mother to take their two daughters, including 11-year-old Nazarian, to Los Angeles to visit her two older brothers. After arriving on a tourist visa for a vacation, it soon became apparent they should not return to Iran.

“We came on a visit and it has become a 31-year stay,” she said.

Leaving Nazarian with her older sister and the sister’s young daughter, her mother returned to Iran to help HER father get to the United States. Her parents remained trapped in Iran for five and half years.

Nazarian said that after her parents were finally able to leave Iran, the Jewish federation was instrumental in helping them obtain political asylum. She said federation also helped her cousin come from Iran eight years ago.

“It speaks volumes to me about what this organization can do for the whole Jewish community,” she said.

Nazarian’s book, which will be for sale at Impact, looks at both her adjustment to life in a new country and her world travels after her marriage. She and her husband have visited nearly 60 countries and have taken their two sons, now 14 and 17, to 36 countries, including Israel.

“Travel is one of the best ways of being in contact with people of different cultures and to learn to respect different ways of living,” she said.

“Because I’m from the East and settled in the West, I identify with my Jewish identity; I also feel American; I also feel Iranian,” she said. “But my travels show me we are global citizens as well. Our Jewish value system first and foremost is that we help humanity.”

Impact is chaired by Michelle Rosenbloom, Anna Kodesch and Mindy Zeitzer. Tickets are $38 before Jan. 25 ($48 after), which includes 3 percent to Mazon—a Jewish Response to Hunger. RSVP to Rachel at 503-892-7413 or online at www.jewishportland.org/impact.