Abdul Rahim Etesami:
Abdul Rahim Etesami, the chairman of the board of directors of the first Khorasaniha Association in Iran, and the chairman of the Sha’re Tova Association of Mashhadi Americans.
Born into a religious Jewish family in the city of Dargaz in 1923 (1302 Solar Hijri), Abdul Rahim Etesami was the son of Ishagh Aliof, who was engaged in trade in Marv, an Iranian town bordering Russia. However, as the Bolshevik forces invaded their city in 1914 and pillaged their properties and possessions, Ishagh traveled to Dargaz, with a small capital. With financial support from his family members, Ishagh soon relocated to Tehran and joined the carpet trade.
Abdul Rahim completed his primary and secondary education at Alliance School. In 1941 (1320 SH), he completed his high school diploma in commerce at Alborz High School and immediately joined his father’s business in the carpet shop they had in the Tehran bazaar.
In 1945 (1324 SH), Abdul Rahim Etesami married Yafa from the Leviyan family, resulting in four sons and two daughters.
Abdul Rahim’s first social activity began in the 1950s (1330s SH), where he served as an assistant next to his father, who was a servant of the synagogue and responsible for the Council of the Mashhadi Jewish community in Danial Synagogue (also known as the Polish Synagogue).
In 1956 (1335 SH), Abdul Rahim Etesami traveled to several European and American countries to visit relatives and gain work experience. In addition to gaining work experience, Abdul Rahim was inspired by the American associations and how they managed their synagogue councils, leading him to consider how a similar style could be replicated to organize the Mashhadi Jewish community.
Therefore, he started his relentless initiative in 1957 (1336 SH) to create greater unity among Jewish Mashhadis. He distributed informative leaflets in several synagogues to convince the Jewish community to hold elections and form an association. He invited synagogue servants and other community philanthropists to collaborate and participate in optimizing the Mashhadi Jewish community. The result of the votes came in, a board of fifteen members was elected, and Abdul Rahim Etesami was chosen as the chairman of the first Khorasani Ha Association.
Abdul Rahim Etesami’s record of social services and exceptional activities in the Mashhadi Jewish community shows that he was elected as the chairman of the board in all its elections due to his competence and extraordinary services, demonstrated throughout the Khorasani Ha Association time. He successfully played a highly influential and remarkable role in establishing the fundamental pillars of the community and transforming the social structure of the Mashhadi Jewish community. During this time, he fulfilled his responsibilities with great strength, indescribable love, and dedication as the leader of the Mashhadi community.
Once the Khorasani Ha Association was established and organized, he took action to facilitate the transfer and management of community properties and endowment lands in Mashhad and Tehran. He also obtained official documents for them. With the assistance of other philanthropists, he created the a Synagogue complex in Zartosht St. and built the first hall for holding celebrations and parties with Kosher services and facilities. He personally took charge of matters related to deceased Mashhadi Jews.
In the early 1980s, Abdul Rahim Etesami immigrated to the United States with his family. Once settled in New York, he founded the Shoresh-e Tavo Association with the assistance of several other philanthropists and former board members of the Khorasani Ha Association. He was appointed as the president of the Sha’re Tova Association after the board elections in September 1980, and began his social activities in New York with unwavering determination. One of his most important actions was constructing the Sha’re Tova complex in Queens as the first shelter for Mashhadi immigrants to New York. The building was inaugurated in December 1984.
In 1995, as a result of establishing this complex, his name was recorded in Herzliya as one of the main founders of the Sha’re Tova complex and also as one of the co-founders of the Elderly Home.
Despite reaching retirement age, Abdul Rahim Etesami remained socially active. Among his other services as the chairman of the Sha’re Tova Association, he contributed to the establishment of the Mashhadi Jewish Center, the construction of the Shira Khodasha Synagogue, and the Youth Synagogue (130 Boat Steam??).
One of his most valuable accomplishments in New York was the collection of historical documents, genealogy, and records of past years of the Mashhadi Jewish community. It has now become a historical archives center and can be used and accessed by those interested in the history and culture of Mashhadi Jews if necessary.
The Mashhadi Jewish community is forever grateful for Abdul Rahim Etesami’s valuable services and considers him a champion of unity and one of the prominent leaders of the Mashhadi community. For over half a century, he has dedicated his precious life with dignity, considering cultural and traditional values, solely for social services.