An Iranian American Jew sorts out what exactly that means

A reader, freelance journalist Karmel Melamed, sent me a link to his wonderful blog Iranian American Jews & Middle East Affairs.

While his focal point is that of an Iranian American Jew, his message seems to me to be pretty universal: the struggle we all go through to figure out who we are - what family values and traditions we want to retain in life versus those we will have to free ourselves from; the lessons we need to learn from our collective experience, and how we should use this knowledge to make ourselves stronger and healthier as opposed to weaker and more victim-like.

To give you an idea of his perspective, here are some excerpts from his interview with Tania Eshgahoff, an Iranian-American Jewish pianist in New York who has performed at Carnegie Hall.

Your music is obviously Persian influenced, why have you as a young Jew who has been raised in the U.S. with so exposure to Western culture still decided to embrace Persian music?

I get asked that question often and I can not really explain it. At age 7, I was attached to Persian melodies. I wanted to constantly repeat the rhythms of the Santour, but I wanted it to be symphonic. I remember when no one was around, I would “get into it.” I mean really lose myself in the music-- I could hear violins and deep bass drum rolls. I could hear a harpist play a chord and French horns add to each measure. But it was very frustrating because I had these sounds in my mind but did not know what it meant and why it is when I play my piano that all that comes out is piano notes. Persian music has been my preface for everything. It sings to me and connects deep in the root of who I am. I am learning maybe it is because of all of those minor chords, how can you not get emotional from that.

. . . Most Persian parents frown upon their children going into careers that are not the traditional professions of medicine or law. What reaction did you receive from friends and relatives when you told them about your desire to pursue a career in music?

Interesting question and it is a bitter-sweet answer. It was not encouraged as a life-long career. Even now, I do face certain criticism and judgments about playing on a big stage. The appropriateness of pursing ones art as a Persian-Jewish woman is mixed with the idea of a Persian Jewish woman giving up and compromising marriage. I think many who feel that way, did not have opportunities to explore what is deep with in them. They only know the obligations, joys and commitment to family, not pursuing this inner-child music obsession. I wish children would begin to have the opportunity, to feel what it is like when your music is being played by these wonderful instruments, among hundreds and hundreds of souls sitting in the audience. You learn that only you, yourself can decide how badly you want something. If you work hard at it and surround yourself by people who support that, you will make it!

. . . Do you think mainstream America is ready to embrace Middle Eastern and Persian influenced music amidst the threat of terrorism coming from that part of the world?

Living in New York City, I find myself in a world that is very accepting of people’s heritage. New York is incredibly cosmopolitan, it is a cultural Mecca. So I never feel a hesitation but more a celebration of this type of music. Non-Persians are so moved that they can understand this music. They feel that they have just visited Iran-- they are interested, and open to learning. It has a Middle Eastern mysticism but the orchestration is very western and classical. And young Persians are a bit enthralled that their parents’ old-folk music is in a form that is very contemporary for them to embrace and feel proud that this is their heritage. In fact a network here in New York has been inquiring about the work I do and find it interesting that there are Jewish Iranians here in New York making beautiful music and art, so different from the headlines we are seeing today.

Anyway, anyone struggling with wanting to retain their traditional identity in a modern world should check out his blog whenever you're feeling that you're the only person going through this.