Meet the authors of the new "Jews of Iran: A Photographic Chronicle" on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 5 p.m. in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. The event, co-sponsored by the Department of History, the Jewish Studies Program, and Penn State University Press, will feature an exhibit of photos from the book by Hassan Sarbakhshian in the Pasquerilla lobby and a lecture by Iranian Jewish musician Galeet Dardashti at 6 p.m. in the Eisenhower Chapel. Penn State University Press will have copies of "Jews of Iran" for sale at a special price, and the authors will be present to sign copies.

About the book: "Jews of Iran" is a photographic journey through 21st-century Iran, providing a unique view of the country’s Jewish community in situations typically unknown to the Western world. Photojournalist Hassan Sarbakhshian spent two years living among Iran’s Jewish communities, joining them for holidays, family gatherings, and travels, and — with the help of fellow journalist Parvaneh Vahidmanesh — documenting how they lived. Featuring over one hundred full-color photos, contextualized with extensive annotations, and accompanied by a substantive introduction written by historian Lior B. Sternfeld, "Jews of Iran" calls into question Western views of this religious community.