Karmel Melamed
Iranian Jewish Radio Host Accused of Defrauding Investors
Jan. 8, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil law suit against popular Iranian Jewish radio talk show host and financial adviser John Farahi. The suit alleges Farahi and his Beverly Hills firm, NewPoint Financial Services Inc., defrauded Iranian American investors of millions of dollars and that Farahi, his company, his wife Gissou and the firm’s controller, Elaheh Amouei, misled investors by falsely telling them their funds were being invested in low-risk unsecured corporate bonds, FDIC insured certificates of deposit, government bonds and corporate bonds issued by companies backed by funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). In reality, the complaint alleges, the investors’ money was transferred into personal accounts controlled by Farahi and his wife to fund construction of their multimillion-dollar mansion in Beverly Hills and in risky option futures trading in the stock market that resulted in more than $18 million in losses for investors.
Manijeh Nehorai: Shattering a Stigma
Nearly two decades ago, many Iranian Jewish families in Southern California would not have dared to publicly acknowledge having children with mental disabilities, let alone bring those children out of their homes. A community-wide social stigma existed, and parents whose children had special needs feared they would be looked down upon and that their other healthy children would not be able to find spouses within the community. Then, 15 years ago, Manijeh N. Nehorai, an Iranian Jewish social worker, quietly became the first person in the community to begin chipping away at this taboo through her volunteer efforts.
Jews Recall, Record Memories of Iran
Mahmomir Cohen, a proud 80-year-old Iranian Jewish grandmother, clutched a notebook that included a Persian love poem she penned for her late husband. Her hands trembled as she recited the hand-written rhyming poem in front of a video camera on Sunday at Nessah Synagogue in Beverly Hills.
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