Jewish Cultural Center To Be Built In Azerbaijan

An ancient history

It is believed that Jews first arrived on the territory of Azerbaijan following the Babylonian destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

Azerbaijan today is home to three distinct Jewish communities: European Jews, who settled in the area during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, and during World War II; Jews from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, who settled mainly in Baku during the early part of the 20th century; and Mountain Jews, the most sizable and ancient group, who have inhabited the Caucasus since the fifth century CE.

At a time of heightened antisemitism across the globe, Azerbaijan—home to the largest Jewish community in the Muslim world—is considered free of such animus, with the country’s 25,000 to 30,000 Jews living in harmony with their predominantly Muslim neighbors, who have formed a special friendship and affinity towards Israel.

The city, which is seeking an influx of Israeli and Jewish tourists from around the world, has three synagogues, two Jewish schools, a just-opened kosher restaurant and hotels that cater to strictly kosher groups.

This fall, hundreds of European rabbis from across the continent will be gathering in Azerbaijan this fall for the biennial convention of the Conference of European Rabbis, at the invitation of President Aliyev, who will serve as the honorary host. The event will mark the first time such a conference has been held in a Muslim nation.