The
Jews of Mashhad were forced to practice Islam for one hundred and fifty years.
They kept their Judaic traditions in hiding. My parents were married in
Mashhad then moved to Tehran where I was born. In 1951 the entire family
immigrated to Israel. The Mashhadi community in Israel kept their specific
traditions for decades throughout the world: New York, London, Milan.
I
was a quiet shy girl always curious and studious. I excelled in school
and were fascinated by the laws of nature as early as second grade.
Growing up in Tel Aviv we lived with both my grandparents and three uncles in
one small house for eight years. I started reading books when my uncle
bought his first set of books. My high school teachers were the ones who
guided me throughout my studies and ultimately my future career as a research
biochemist. I married a man from California who had a similar background
of the Mashhadi community. We raised our two sons in California, while
our respective parents had the continuous influence of keeping the Mashhadi
traditions. To this day I am the only scientist in my extended family.
This
is the story of my journey from the Jews of Mashhad to the study of protein
chemistry. Proteins that pump acid into your stomach, balance
sodium and potassium in your kidneys, proteins that control your metabolism and
proteins that turn into amyloids and cause neuro-degenerative diseases.
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