Iran’s Jewish community is one of the oldest in the diaspora, dating back to the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. In the city of Hamadan lies a site believed to be the tomb of Mordechai and Esther.
Esther, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah are biblical books highlighting Jewish stories from ancient kingdoms like Babylon and Media-Persia
The Book of Esther begins during the reign of King Ahasuerus—identified as Xerxes I (486–465 BCE)—who reigned over “127 provinces from India to Nubia” and who made Esther queen. According to tradition, avoiding animosity towards Jews, Mordechai and Esther later moved to Hamadan, where they lived until old age and were buried there
A mausoleum stands at the site, which was once visited by Iranian Jews specially at Purim, and international tourists, though access is now restricted for Israeli passport holders.
The earliest written reference to the tomb comes from the 12th-century Jewish traveler Benjamin of Tudela, describing Hamadan as a “town with about 50,000 Israelis” and that “Mordechai and Esther are buried there,” reported the Jerusalem Post just before Purim and two days after the start of the current war with Iran in February.
The tomb features carved wooden panels with Hebrew inscriptions in large letters from the Book of Esther, “The Lord reigns, the Lord has reigned, and the Lord will reign for ever and ever.” The city of Hamadan was once the ancient city of Ecbatana, capital of the Median Empire.
This is the dynasty to which the bible attributes the story of Mordechai and Esther —the grounds for the Jewish festival of Purim today.
Because of its placing the site became controversial and in 2011 students called for removal of its official status. This was restored shortly after due to complaints by the local population. In May 2020 the tomb was set on fire and since October 2023, Palestinian flags and Hezbollah banners have appeared at the entrance.
In 2024, The Hamadan Historic Center—including the tomb—was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. However the Israel National News reported that the site has been vandalised in connection with the war in Gaza, and was followed by the Iran International adding that after the bombing of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus in April 2024 the sacred site was attacked again, this time with Molotov cocktails.
