A Jewish woman’s escape from Iran

Sima Goel

I risked everything for freedom: family, education, friends and life. 

As a 13-year old Jewish girl, I had gone into the streets of Shiraz to protest the Shah’s oppressive rule, but when he fled, Iran ended up with a much more dangerous regime led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. 

I was blacklisted by my school and unable to continue my studies after I defended a Baha’i friend who was bullied by a Muslim extremist. My independent spirit brought me to the attention of the authorities and I was forced into hiding. As I mourned the murder of innocent family members and friends, I, like all Iranian women, no matter their ethnicity or faith, was forced, to wear the Hijab.

I realized I had to leave my beloved birthplace where Jews had lived for over 2,500 years and find a country where I could live as a free woman, where I could educate myself and give back to society. It was heart wrenching to know that I would never return to Shiraz; the simple life I had known would be forever etched in my soul- the summer nights counting the stars in the consolation Big Dipper would be just a sweet memory.

With my mother’s blessing, my sister and I met with smugglers and were taken on a long and dangerous journey through the desert into Pakistan, where we lived as homeless refugees, without money, language or community. Our only link to stability was through the United Nations, whose representatives doled out a subsistence allowance while refusing to assist us in any other way.

We were two teenagers, who later on were joined by our youngest sister, struggling to live without clean water, food or bedding, anxious to avoid prying eyes and find the elusive contacts that would, we prayed, lead us to a safer land where people could have equal opportunities. I wrote the story of our lives and the way we used to live  – how in a brief moment it all turned upside down.

I wanted to live a life embracing freedom of choice – from dress to education, to political and religious expression. It was what I dreamed about when I was in hiding in Shiraz, and it took many years of trials and tribulations to realize it. 

When I arrived in Canada in 1983, I was only 18, could barely speak English and couldn’t utter a single word of French. I had to rely on myself. Despite severe culture shock, I found the strength to work, scrimp and save for my education. I eventually became a Canadian citizen and a professional woman, determined to tell the world of the importance of liberty.

I count my blessings, knowing that I live in a free country where hard work and determination is key. Here, we have opportunities to make our dreams come true and live harmoniously. As I reflect in my book, “While in the East some people may look at westerners with envy, wishing they could be here, I wonder if we really know how blessed we are to be living in this beautiful country.” 

We need to make sure that we appreciate the wonderful freedoms we have and do our best to make Canada a shining example of tolerance, acceptance and peace. 

Fleeing The Hijab, A Jewish Woman’s Escape from Iran is an invitation to join me in my journey from fear to freedom; this memoir reminds the reader that we can live our dreams, regardless of the adversity we may endure en route. It vividly portrays the dangerous journey I made with my sisters to be able to express our voice.

In the foreward to the book, Rabbi Reuven Bulka writes, “This is not a book about religion, but there are precious nuggets of how Judaism was once lived, so beautifully, in Iran. And it is a book about faith: faith in God, abiding faith in a better tomorrow, and the profound understanding that faith in God demands that we do our best to make that tomorrow happen.” 

Sima Goel has been a practising chiropractor in Montreal since 1994. Fleeing the Hijab: A Jewish Woman’s Escape from Iran  published by General Store Publishing House. Goel accepts invitations to read. Visit www.fleeingthehijab.com for contact info.