Parvaneh Sarraf

Born into a philanthropic family in Shiraz, Sarraf’s journey took her across continents, mastering Jewish law and founding cultural organizations. A community teacher and religious advocate, she empowers her society through education, religious leadership, and social activism.
:Table of Contents
EARLY LIFE
BIRTH AND FAMILY BACKGROUND
EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
FURTHER AWARDS AND POSITIONS
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
TEACHER OF THE COMMUNITY
CREATING PARAS
THE IMMA CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
THE AGUNOT LAW
ARTS AND PUBLICATIONS
PUBLICATIONS
ART
AUDIO CLIPS
TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

Early Life
Birth and family background

Parvaneh Sarraf was born in 1944 (5704 Hebrew calendar) into a religious family in Shiraz, Iran. Her father, Musa Doostan, was a philanthropic businessman and the founder of the first leather factory in Shiraz. During World War II, when Jews from Mashhad migrated to Shiraz, he generously offered his large house as a shelter for them. This house later became a gathering place and synagogue for the Mashhadi Jewish community.

Education

Parvaneh Sarraf completed her elementary education at the Alliance School and graduated with honors in literature from Khaza’ili High School. From an early age, she was educated in Jewish religious doctrines by her father, who was a scholar and religious leader in Shiraz. This exposure helped her gain a deep understanding of the Torah.

After finishing her elementary education, she traveled to the Holy Land for religious studies. After five years of study, during which she mastered various aspects of Jewish law and learned Hebrew, she returned to Iran.

Professional Journey

Upon completing high school, Parvaneh immediately began teaching Hebrew at Ganj-e Danesh High School under the Otzar Hatorah cultural organization. She taught for eight years, during which she also managed a few cultural centers within the Jewish community. During a visit to the Jewish schools by the late Isaac Shalom, global head of Otzar Hatorah, and Rabbi Geoyang, Parvaneh was honored as an exemplary teacher and received a scholarship from the Galut Jewish Union.
In 1971, the same year she received her scholarship, she moved to the United States, settling in New York. She immersed herself in her studies at the Hebrew Teachers’ College (Herzlia College), where classes were conducted in Yiddish. Within three years, she earned a bachelor’s degree in theology and a teaching certificate, called a “Maharat”, equipping her to teach in religious schools (yeshiva). Maharat a distinction given to female rabbis upon graduation. During this period, she further expanded her expertise by attending courses on Sephardic traditions at Columbia University, increasing her knowledge along the way.

Further awards and positions

In 1990, Parvaneh was recognized by the Board of Jewish Education as “Teacher of the Year,” receiving a certificate of honor and the prestigious Gross Award. Her cultural activities also led her to become a member of the board of directors of the Federation of Iranian Jews in New York. She served as a cultural advisor to several schools and Jewish women’s organizations and participated in interfaith dialogues at Molloy College in Long Island. She also organized bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah ceremonies for the Mashhadi Jewish community in New York.
Leadership and Community Service
Due to her dedicated efforts, Parvaneh has been honored multiple times, receiving numerous awards and certificates of appreciation as an esteemed educator, scholar, and spiritual leader. She is recognized as a pioneer in cultural, social, and religious initiatives, particularly in her work with women, by prominent figures, cultural institutions, and women’s organizations in Los Angeles and Hadassah in New York.

Teacher of the Community

Currently, Parvaneh Sarraf serves as the deputy rabbi and head of the Yeshiva at Hebrew Academy in King’s Point, Long Island. Her deep passion for knowledge about her people, theological research, and education has earned her the title of “The Teacher of the Community”.
She is deeply committed to the history of the Jewish people and the richness of their cultural heritage. To understand her ancestral identity, she diligently studies every available document and book. Despite her extensive research, she often feels that the more she uncovers, the less she truly discovers, which causes her frustration. Nonetheless, this only strengthens her resolve to contribute to the preservation and promotion of the history and identity of Iranian Jews.

Creating Paras

In 1974, Parvaneh married engineer Ramin Sarraf, and together they have two daughters. From the start of her career in New York, with her husband’s support, Parvaneh not only continued teaching at various yeshivas but also dedicated herself to helping Iranian immigrants navigate their new lives. She provided asylum assistance, helped meet basic needs, and guided newcomers in adapting to their new environment, including religious practices.
To further these efforts, Parvaneh co-founded the charitable organization “Paras” in 1982, alongside Queens philanthropists Dr. Iraj Lalizari and Haim Javaheri. She also began working closely with the “Morah Penina” Foundation, donating a portion of her lecture earnings to support underprivileged students.
The Imma Cultural Organization
In addition to her family responsibilities, Parvaneh is one of the few figures in the community who regularly gives religious, social, and cultural lectures, aiming to empower women by helping them understand their true place in contemporary society. Her unique wisdom and insight enables her to provide guidance and support to families in crisis.
In 1999, Parvaneh founded the Imma Cultural Organization to promote Jewish knowledge and culture in New York. This organization became a key institution for hosting cultural and social conferences, publishing books and magazines on education, worship, Jewish history, philosophy, religious practices, ethics, and the role of women in society. Today, Imma is recognized as a central hub for Iranian women in the United States, holding a special place of respect among similar organizations.
Parvaneh Sarraf’s active involvement in various seminars and meetings centered around the organization’s goals in New York and other U.S. cities, alongside experts like Amnon Netzer, has yielded positive and impactful results.

The Agunot law

Her academic excellence in theology, philosophy, ethnic history, and her advocacy for women’s rights and social justice have earned her further accolades. One of her significant contributions includes her role in shaping the “Agunot” law and drafting prenuptial agreements. With the collaboration of Dr. Nahid Pirnazar, she organized several conferences in New York and Los Angeles with the participation of scholars and rabbis. Through persistent efforts, she gained the endorsement of Iranian rabbis in Los Angeles and New York, successfully making the law enforceable in New York courts.

Arts and Publications

Publications

Parvaneh Sarraf began her writing career in 1978 with the publication of a booklet titled “The Ninth of Av” in Tehran. After migrating to the U.S., she continued to write important articles on education, religion, and social issues in Persian-language publications in New York. In 1987, to commemorate her grandchild’s bar mitzvah, she published the book “The Gift of Judaism to My Child”.
In 2002, she published “The Blessing of Being a Woman,” where she discussed the lives of several iconic women in Jewish history, drawing from the Tanakh. Her other works include “The Call of the Divine in the Heart of Man” and “Melodies of the Heavens”, the latter of which was published in 2015 and explores

Jewish spiritual music in Iran.

Art

Parvaneh Sarraf has also dedicated her free time to teaching Hebrew and pursuing her interests in music and religious poetry. She has a beautiful singing voice, inherited from her father, and is well-versed in Persian musical traditions. As one of the best prayer leaders (Chazzan) in New York, she stands out among Iranian Jewish women for her ability to recite verses from the Holy Scriptures.
Mrs. Sarraf has recorded all the prayers (Tefillin) in Persian musical styles and distributes these recordings to her students and followers for free. Parvaneh is recognized as a significant religious figure in New York, known for combining deep religious conviction with profound theological knowledge. Her clear articulation and heavenly voice enable her to convey the essence of Jewish spirituality with eloquence.

Year	Event
1944	Birth of Parvaneh Sarraf in Shiraz, Iran.
1971	Won scholarship, relocated to the United States, settled in New York.
1974	Married engineer Ramin Sarraf.
1978	Published “The Ninth of Av” in Tehran.
1982	Co-founded the Paras charitable organization.
1987	Published “The Gift of Judaism to My Child”.
1999	Founded the Imma Cultural Organization.
2002	Published “The Blessing of Being a Woman”.
2015	Published “Melodies of the Heavens”.

Audio clips
Hear from this inspiring figure:
• Parvaneh Sarraf’s Reading of Haftara Vayera from the Book of Ezekiel
• Parvaneh Sarraf’s Lecture on the Education and Upbringing of Children
• Mrs. Parvaneh Sarraf’s Lecture on the Sacred Music of Iranian Jews
• Mrs. Parvaneh Sarraf’s Presentation on the Book “Sacred Music of Iranian Jews” (Part Two)