Story highlights Jews have been living in Iran for more than 2,500 years

1,500 Jews call Esfahan home despite tensions between Iran and Israel

Community leader: "Israel and Iran are countries, and we consider ourselves Iranian Jews"

Esfahan, Iran (CNN) If you're looking for the Jewish community in the Iranian town of Esfahan, you won't have to search for long.

The main synagogue is on Palestine Square, right in the heart of Iran's third largest city. There are public prayers several times a day -- sometimes with more than a hundred people in attendance.

The Jewish community in Iran does not hide its heritage. At the synagogue, Michael Malakon leads the prayer service. He says he is proud of his Jewish identity. And even in a country that is so hostile towards Israel, Malakon says he can practice freely and that he has many Muslim friends.

"I hang around with all kinds of young people and I have a lot of Muslim friends," Malakon tells CNN after finishing the noon prayer on a Monday. About 20 people were in attendance, usually from local businesses around the synagogue. None of them tried to hide the fact that they were Jewish -- and inside the synagogue the Star of David is proudly displayed in many places, alongside passages from the Torah.

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