Iranian Jews Gathering At Movie Theatre For Shabbat Services?

Karmel Melamed writes:

If you passed by the small Fine Arts Theatre located on Wilshire Boulevard before La Cienega Boulevard on Saturday mornings, you might find it stranger to see random local Iranian Jews entering it without paying any admission. At first glance you might think these Iranian Jews might be gathered at the small theatre to view an early morning matinee of foreign films. But if you enter the theatre’s main screening room you might just be shocked to find the "Or Emona" congregation of Iranian Jews participating in Shabbat morning services!

Yes, Hebrew prayers chanted in the traditional Islamic-style melody echo through out the newly refurbished plush 1940’s style theatre and a performance stage standing in front of the giant white screen serves as a bima. To some, this Persian shul set inside an old school Hollywood movie theatre might seem like a funky surrealistic painting because you’d probably never find these two elements come together in any other circumstances. Yet for the near two dozen Iranian Jewish congregants, the theatre is their sanctuary for spirituality for three hours every Saturday morning.