Iranian Israelis are marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with subdued celebrations this year, turning the holiday into an expression of solidarity with protesters in Iran and a quiet act of resistance. Families have scaled back traditional festivities of music and large gatherings, instead focusing on the symbolic Haft-sin table, as war and reports of mass killings in Iran weigh heavily on their hearts.

For many in Israel with Iranian roots, the holiday is intertwined with grief and hope. Some maintain cautious contact with friends in Iran amid internet blackouts and repression, while others channel their emotions into preparing traditional Persian dishes that offer comfort and connection. The ancient holiday, which predates Iran’s current regime, is seen as a testament to cultural endurance despite efforts to suppress it.

Across Israeli and diaspora communities, Nowruz gatherings have been postponed or simplified, yet many insist on observing the holiday as a statement of continuity. Lighting candles, sharing tea and sweets, and setting symbolic tables are described as small but meaningful acts that affirm unity and the belief in renewal, even during war and political turmoil.