For Iranian-American Jews, the latest escalations between Israel and Iran felt especially personal.

Many of us watched the three pillars of our identity collide on the world stage, with growing uncertainty about what comes next. Like many others, I speak Farsi, cook the dishes created by my Persian ancestors, and still dream of a world where I can take my children to visit Iran.

The people in our community host Shabbat dinners that echo the spirit of Iranian Mehmoonis, rather than the typical American Shabbat at home. At the same time, we speak Hebrew, send our children to Jewish camps, and celebrate holidays with family and community — living at the intersection of rich, layered traditions.

And we also relate to the human rights and political challenges that so many Iranians face today. The world now sees a glimpse of what our families once endured to escape Iran.

Growing up, my grandfather told me stories about his childhood there in the 1930s and 1940s — about how Jews weren’t allowed on the streets when it rained because of the antisemitic belief that their supposed uncleanliness would contaminate the ground.

By the 1950s, under the Shah, Jews were able to participate in society and contribute to Iran’s growing industrial economy, despite continued antisemitism. And though many Iranians looked down on him, my grandfather — like so many others — remained a proud Zionist.

But everything changed with the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Iran was no longer safe for my family. They fled first to Israel, and then to Los Angeles, where their American Dream began.

They rebuilt their lives in a new country, carrying their culture with them, and worked hard to provide my family with opportunities. They saw no reason to look back. Through hard work, risk, and luck, they made a name for themselves and built generational companies in aerospace manufacturing and telecommunications.

Still, their love for Israel was deeply ingrained in who they were. And more than love or pride, they believed in Israel’s potential and the resilience of its people.

Even after leaving Israel in the late 1970s, they viewed the country with inspiration. With their children’s futures in mind, my grandparents invested in Israeli technology, energy, and real estate, hoping these ventures would help the next generation of my family maintain ties with the country and its people. And that’s exactly what happened.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but the values my family passed down have always tethered me to Israel. As a child, I visited the Jewish State for summer camps and holidays. In high school, I lived with an Israeli family and attended school there. Even as life got busier with college and my career, I made a point to stay connected to my roots, to my family, and to Israel.

As my career progressed, Israel was increasingly becoming a highly investable place in both technology and real estate, despite being a resource-poor country. This wasn’t a coincidence.

Israeli innovation and military prowess stem from its need to defend itself — a reality every Israeli confronts through mandatory military service. This experience, especially in elite intelligence units, exposes young people to cutting-edge technology and instills the discipline and leadership that drive many to launch start-ups.

Over the last five years, I helped bring together a group of Persian-Jewish families to invest in Israel’s technology ecosystem. With the help of friends I made in Israel throughout my life, I’ve developed lasting partnerships and invested in many of the country’s most dynamic businesses.

Just as it was for my grandparents, Israel is once again a source of inspiration for our generation. To me, Israel is not just a refuge — but a future. I hope to show other people why the country is worthy of their investment, while also being a place to visit and support through philanthropy.

Since October 7, 2023, the Tel Aviv 35 index has climbed nearly 50 percent, while the Israeli shekel has gained more than 10 percent against the US dollar. Israel is home to one of the world’s most concentrated and dynamic technology ecosystems, generating over $140 billion in tech exits since 2014, and consistently ranking among the top four countries for the number of companies listed on the Nasdaq.

Iran is the land of my family’s past, my family’s language, and our most cherished traditions. I still dream of walking the streets of Tehran not as a child of refugees, but as a proud Iranian American Jew.

But Israel is where our past meets our future, a place that calls on us to invest our time, our love, and, yes, our money, to help ensure the country’s future.

Ariel Torbati is a private equity and venture capital investor based in Los Angeles. He is a founding partner of Canon Equity and a third-generation member of the Nazarian family office.