A Jewish community in Azerbaijan has existed since the in the 5th Century C.E. when the area was part of the Persian Empire. Members of this ancient community are often called “Mountain Jews” after their homes in the mountains of Azerbaijan. Descendants of immigrants from Europe and Georgia make up the rest of the population, which is estimated to be between 8,600 and 16,000. Azerbaijan’s Mountain Jews are neither Ashkenazic or Sephardic, having emigrated to Persia from Ancient Israel as early as the 8th Century B.C.E. Azerbaijan has been relatively free of anti-Semitism, with Jews coexisting peacefully with their Muslim neighbors.
Arieh Scharnberg
Baku, Azerbaijan
+972 534007220, WhatsApp only
moreshetadventures@gmail.com
Join Arieh to discover the Mountain Jews and their incredible stories. Visit Azerbaijan’s synagogues and learn about the unique Jewish community and its distinctive traditions.
February 19, 2019