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JEWISH Baku

Jewish city story of Baku

Jewish population of Baku consists mainly of Ashkenazi Jews, who started arriving in Baku in 1832. They are believed to be soldier-cantonists, underage sons of Russian conscripts, who from 1721 were educated in special “canton schools” for future military service. These schools were called garrison schools in the 18th century and those who left the Pale of Settlement (the western region of Imperial Russia with varying borders that existed from 1791 to 1917, in which permanent residency by Jews was allowed and beyond which Jewish residency was mostly forbidden). The industrialization of Baku as a result of the oil boom attracted many qualified immigrants, including Ashkenazi Jews. In 1913, the population of Jews was 9,689 people or 4.5% and this number was constantly increasing. 

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Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center

Azerbaijan is a modern and strong country attached to its past and advancing confidently into the future. Azerbaijan is a country cherishing its values. Respect for national and moral wealth, history, traditions, the human factor and citizens is our top priority. The modern Azerbaijan is recognized in the world through its nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev. And the Center bearing the name of Heydar Aliyev has become a symbol of modern Azerbaijan and modern Baku. The building of the Heydar Aliyev Center is an embodiment of the development of the present-day Azerbaijan and its attachment both to the past and to the future. The logo of the Heydar Aliyev Center also represents a reflection of this idea. The Center’s logo symbolizes Azerbaijan’s forward-looking aspirations, the progress and the future of the country. The silver color of the logo epitomizes the overcoming of obstacles and moving towards a goal. The silver color is a symbol of leadership, struggle, dynamism, wisdom, transparency, development and innovation. The lines of the logo harmonize with the building of the Heydar Aliyev Center and embody Azerbaijan’s dynamic development, the country’s aspirations to becoming an international leader and progress through perpetuation of values such as attachment to the Motherland and people. The Heydar Aliyev Center’s logo emphasizes the institution’s mission viewed through the prism of global and national values, nation building traditions and the message to be passed over to future generations. The Center’s slogan "To the Future with Values!" is based on this idea.

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World Jewish Travel Official February 11, 2023

The Jewish Story of Baku, Azerbaijan

Jewish population of Baku consists mainly of Ashkenazi Jews, who started arriving in Baku in 1832. They are believed to be soldier-cantonists, underage sons of Russian conscripts, who from 1721 were educated in special “canton schools” for future military service. These schools were called garrison schools in the 18th century and those who left the Pale of Settlement (the western region of Imperial Russia with varying borders that existed from 1791 to 1917, in which permanent residency by Jews was allowed and beyond which Jewish residency was mostly forbidden). The industrialization of Baku as a result of the oil boom attracted many qualified immigrants, including Ashkenazi Jews. In 1913, the population of Jews was 9,689 people or 4.5% and this number was constantly increasing.  Jews played an important role in the intellectual and artistic life of Baku. For example, 75 out of 238 lawyers, and 69 out of 185 doctors for Jews in the late 19-early 20th centuries. There were Jewish schools, religious schools for learning Torah, Talmud and Mishna, private musical and girls’ schools, and libraries. In 1910, there was a Jewish Cultural Society “Palestine”. They played an important role in the development of the oil industry in Azerbaijan. For example, the construction of the Baku-Batumi oil pipeline was predominantly funded by the Rothschilds. Baku-born engineer David Landau and his wife doctor Lyubov Veniaminovna Landau contributed to the scientific life of Baku. Their son Lev became one of the most prominent scientists of the 20th century and got nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics.  Apart from the Ashkenazi, a small group of Georgian Jews had also emerged in Baku. They had moved to Baku from different cities of Georgia in late 19-early 20th centuries and emigrated to Baku for economic reasons. They spoke Georgian language and kept all Georgian traditions including food but strictly followed Jewish religious rule.   The fall of the Tsar Russia in 1917 was greeted with enthusiasm among the Jews of Baku as it meant elimination of many anti-Jewish rules. The establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 granted equal rights to all nationalities living in the territories of Azerbaijan. Jewish population of Azerbaijan contributed to the political life of the young republic. Moisey Gukhman was the first Jewish parliamentarian. The Minister of Health was E. Hindes, deputy Minister of Finance and the Chairman of the State Bank was M. Abeshaus.  With the establishment of the Soviet Union, the Jewish population of Baku was increasing due to the persecutions in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus and the outcomes of the civil war in the country, which made people look for better life elsewhere. The Soviet policy on fighting illiteracy facilitated opening of schools for Mountain Jews, clubs and libraries. However, schools in Jewish languages were being shut down by the Stalin regime of the 1930’s, as well as the synagogues, religious schools and other religious buildings. As a result of the mass propaganda of proletarian internationalism mixed marriages were increasing and Jews were increasingly assimilating with other ethnic and religious groups. Many lost their identity, language and traditions. The processes resulted in the formation of the phenomenon known as “Bakuvian” (бакинец) – an interesting symbiosis of cultures of different ethnic groups, in which the Jewish population of Baku was an integral part.  Jews joined the Soviet army, even participated in World War II. Many veterans recall stories when Jewish and Azeri people were held captive in the war and Azeri people saved the lives of their Jewish comrades saying they were Azeris. Jews of Azerbaijan also fought for the independence of Azerbaijan in the 1990’s. Among them Albert Agarunov became a national hero of Azerbaijan. However, the Jewish population of Baku and Azerbaijan in general has been decreasing even since it gained independence.   

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#JEWISHBAKU

Фуад Ахундов лучший гид в Азербайджане. Будете в Баку обязательно найдите его. #baku #fuadaxundov #guide #trip #azerbaijan #jewishbaku #synagoguebaku #synagogue ...

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#однаждывбаку #встречадрузей #jewish #jewishbaku ...

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#бармицва #barmitzvah #ברמצווה #kosher #кошер #כשר #מזלטוב #mazaltov #jewishbaku #baku ...

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Spent the morning learning about Shabbat with this group of Jewish teenagers in Baku. I told them about Jewish life in London and they were fascinated by it. I could see how excited they were to meet me and they kept asking if Jews in London are like Jews in Azerbaijan. I explained that we also have Synagogues and Jewish schools, and now they all want to come and try out the Kosher restaurants!
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После окончания карантина, на улице Башир Сафароглу планируют продолжить реставрацию и реконструкцию, а также привезти еще больше малых архитектурных деталей.
After quarantine, on Bashir Safaroglu Street, they plan to continue the restoration and reconstruction, as well as bring even more small architectural details.

بعد الحجر الصحي ، في شارع بشير سفاروغلو ، يخططون لمواصلة الترميم وإعادة الإعمار ، وكذلك جلب المزيد من التفاصيل المعمارية الصغيرة.

#oldbaku #baku #experienceazerbaijan #europetravel #europetrip #bakumagazine #tourism #tripadvisor #travel #vscoazerbaijan #visitazerbaijan #streetphotography #hiddenbaku #reconstruction #architecture #aztagram #azerbaijan #caucasus #travelphotography #instabaku #fotografia #oldplaces #palazzo #oldpalace #artnouveau #modernart #visitazerbaijan #visiteurope #eclecticstyle #jewishquarter #jewishbaku
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Улица Мирза Ибрагимова, бывшая Армянская, где находятся церковь и дом великого Бакинского архитектора - Йузефа Гославского.
Mirza Ibragimova Street, the former Armenian, where the church and the house of the great Baku architect - Josef Goslavsky are located.

شارع ميرزا ​​إبراجيموفا ، الأرمني السابق ، حيث تقع الكنيسة ومنزل المهندس المعماري الكبير باكو - جوزيف جوسلافسكي.

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#jewishbaku #jewishhistory #saudiarabia
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