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IN A TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD, AZERBAIJAN IS FRIEND OF THE JEWS
JWeekly
Nov 14 2013
by rabbi doug kahn
Follow j. on and
What country outside of Israel has a community composed exclusively
of Jews who live there voluntarily and trace their roots to the
destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE? What Muslim country has
dramatically expanded its economic and military ties with Israel? What
country has a Shiite Muslim majority, no state religion, and provides
state support to religious institutions, including Jewish ones?
The answer to all of these questions is Azerbaijan, which became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.
I recently returned from a visit to this small nation surrounded
by the Caspian Sea, Iran, Georgia, Armenia and Russia. Azerbaijan
is a well-kept secret in almost every way - including its leaders'
commitment to flourishing multiculturalism, the theme of the Baku
Humanitarian Forum to which I was invited by the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry.
Approximately 750 international delegates attended the conference
hosted by President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan is not a Western-style
democracy, and it has a strong leader who took over from his father.
Yet, there is little doubt about Aliyev's popularity in a country
that is undergoing an astonishing economic and building boom.
President Aliyev spoke eloquently about Azerbaijan's commitment
to multiculturalism and positive interethnic and interreligious
relations. He also spoke powerfully about the Armenian takeover of
Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to approximately 1 million Azerbaijani
refugees and the failure of the world community to respond in any
serious way. The organizers' hope clearly was that we would find
shared values with Azerbaijan and support its quest to regain the
territory currently held by Armenia.
The highlight of my trip was experiencing the unique Jewish story of
Azerbaijan, and I am grateful to Azerbaijani Consul General Nasimi
Aghayev for making it possible for me to experience it firsthand.
Our small group met with Ambassador Elshad Iskandarov, chairman of the
State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, who noted the
growth of anti-Semitism in the world, especially in the Muslim world,
and indicated that Azerbaijan stands in sharp contrast with that trend.
He explained that while the population is overwhelmingly Muslim,
Azerbaijan is unique because: 1) it is on the Great Silk Road and
therefore throughout history had to be open-minded; 2) the identity
of the nation was built on many foundations, including that of the
ruling Khazars whose leaders converted to Judaism in the eighth
century; and 3) the form of Shiite Islam practiced is influenced by
Sufi tradition and is committed to tolerance.
At the beginning of the 20th century, he noted, because the Russians
did not allow Jews to purchase synagogues in the cities, the Muslim
community bought land and gifted it to the Jewish community. He
acknowledged the challenges posed by radical religious movements in
neighboring countries, but stated that the tolerance in Azerbaijan
can be a beacon for Europe. One way Azerbaijan is addressing the
challenge is by sending guidance on sermons to the mosques aimed at
reinforcing moderation. I wondered whether that step would be possible
in a Western-style democracy.
Next we visited Parliament to meet with Yevda Abramov, a Jewish
parliamentarian and a leader of the Mountain Jews. He talked about the
Jewish community's loyalty to the country, and reiterated the nation's
commitment to tolerance and cooperation, as well as the world's double
standard in ignoring the Armenian actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. He told
us that not only is there good cooperation between Jews and Muslims,
but Ashkenazi and Mountain Jews also get along.
We visited the New Synagogue, recently built by the government for
approximately $2 million for the Mountain Jews living in Baku. The
Mountain Jews come from the Quba region and comprise the majority
of the 15,000 Jews living in Quba and Baku. Nearly 300 years ago,
the area's leader, Fatali Khan, allowed Jews to develop a community
on one side of the river (free to move anywhere they wanted), and
today 4,000 Jews live in Krasnaya Sloboda (the Red Village) - the
largest community of Mountain Jews outside Israel.
At their synagogue in Baku, we met Milikh Ilhanonovich Yevdayev,
chairman of the Religious Community of Mountain Jews, who told us
that 300 to 500 Jews gather for the holidays in Baku, and that they
have two schools and a yeshiva.
A delegation from the conference journeyed to the Quba region and
visited the Red Village, which contains three synagogues. (There were
13 before the Soviets closed most of them.) We met Boris Simanduyen,
head of the community, at a beautiful synagogue on Shabbat afternoon.
He, too, praised the commitment of the Azerbaijani government to
religious diversity and tolerance.
While a number of young people have left the community (for Moscow and
elsewhere), and the population is down from a one-time high of 18,000,
we were surrounded by children as we walked through the town and at
the synagogue. One young teenager opened a prayerbook and speed-read
in Hebrew to show us what he had learned. As we left, I hoped that
this truly unique chapter of Jewish history would continue and thrive.
The conference exposed us to a country that defies stereotypes and
that deserves global Jewish recognition for its positive contributions
to sustaining Jewish life and promoting a genuinely multicultural
society in a very challenging neighborhood. Azerbaijan continues to
grow relations with Israel despite pressure from its neighbors. We
don't have so many friends in the world. When we do, it is important
to reach out to them in return.
Rabbi Doug Kahn is executive director of the San Francisco-based
Jewish Community Relations Council.
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/70126/in-a-tough-neighborhood-azerbaijan-is-friend-of-the-jews/
JWeekly
Nov 14 2013
by rabbi doug kahn
Follow j. on and
What country outside of Israel has a community composed exclusively
of Jews who live there voluntarily and trace their roots to the
destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE? What Muslim country has
dramatically expanded its economic and military ties with Israel? What
country has a Shiite Muslim majority, no state religion, and provides
state support to religious institutions, including Jewish ones?
The answer to all of these questions is Azerbaijan, which became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.
I recently returned from a visit to this small nation surrounded
by the Caspian Sea, Iran, Georgia, Armenia and Russia. Azerbaijan
is a well-kept secret in almost every way - including its leaders'
commitment to flourishing multiculturalism, the theme of the Baku
Humanitarian Forum to which I was invited by the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry.
Approximately 750 international delegates attended the conference
hosted by President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan is not a Western-style
democracy, and it has a strong leader who took over from his father.
Yet, there is little doubt about Aliyev's popularity in a country
that is undergoing an astonishing economic and building boom.
President Aliyev spoke eloquently about Azerbaijan's commitment
to multiculturalism and positive interethnic and interreligious
relations. He also spoke powerfully about the Armenian takeover of
Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to approximately 1 million Azerbaijani
refugees and the failure of the world community to respond in any
serious way. The organizers' hope clearly was that we would find
shared values with Azerbaijan and support its quest to regain the
territory currently held by Armenia.
The highlight of my trip was experiencing the unique Jewish story of
Azerbaijan, and I am grateful to Azerbaijani Consul General Nasimi
Aghayev for making it possible for me to experience it firsthand.
Our small group met with Ambassador Elshad Iskandarov, chairman of the
State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, who noted the
growth of anti-Semitism in the world, especially in the Muslim world,
and indicated that Azerbaijan stands in sharp contrast with that trend.
He explained that while the population is overwhelmingly Muslim,
Azerbaijan is unique because: 1) it is on the Great Silk Road and
therefore throughout history had to be open-minded; 2) the identity
of the nation was built on many foundations, including that of the
ruling Khazars whose leaders converted to Judaism in the eighth
century; and 3) the form of Shiite Islam practiced is influenced by
Sufi tradition and is committed to tolerance.
At the beginning of the 20th century, he noted, because the Russians
did not allow Jews to purchase synagogues in the cities, the Muslim
community bought land and gifted it to the Jewish community. He
acknowledged the challenges posed by radical religious movements in
neighboring countries, but stated that the tolerance in Azerbaijan
can be a beacon for Europe. One way Azerbaijan is addressing the
challenge is by sending guidance on sermons to the mosques aimed at
reinforcing moderation. I wondered whether that step would be possible
in a Western-style democracy.
Next we visited Parliament to meet with Yevda Abramov, a Jewish
parliamentarian and a leader of the Mountain Jews. He talked about the
Jewish community's loyalty to the country, and reiterated the nation's
commitment to tolerance and cooperation, as well as the world's double
standard in ignoring the Armenian actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. He told
us that not only is there good cooperation between Jews and Muslims,
but Ashkenazi and Mountain Jews also get along.
We visited the New Synagogue, recently built by the government for
approximately $2 million for the Mountain Jews living in Baku. The
Mountain Jews come from the Quba region and comprise the majority
of the 15,000 Jews living in Quba and Baku. Nearly 300 years ago,
the area's leader, Fatali Khan, allowed Jews to develop a community
on one side of the river (free to move anywhere they wanted), and
today 4,000 Jews live in Krasnaya Sloboda (the Red Village) - the
largest community of Mountain Jews outside Israel.
At their synagogue in Baku, we met Milikh Ilhanonovich Yevdayev,
chairman of the Religious Community of Mountain Jews, who told us
that 300 to 500 Jews gather for the holidays in Baku, and that they
have two schools and a yeshiva.
A delegation from the conference journeyed to the Quba region and
visited the Red Village, which contains three synagogues. (There were
13 before the Soviets closed most of them.) We met Boris Simanduyen,
head of the community, at a beautiful synagogue on Shabbat afternoon.
He, too, praised the commitment of the Azerbaijani government to
religious diversity and tolerance.
While a number of young people have left the community (for Moscow and
elsewhere), and the population is down from a one-time high of 18,000,
we were surrounded by children as we walked through the town and at
the synagogue. One young teenager opened a prayerbook and speed-read
in Hebrew to show us what he had learned. As we left, I hoped that
this truly unique chapter of Jewish history would continue and thrive.
The conference exposed us to a country that defies stereotypes and
that deserves global Jewish recognition for its positive contributions
to sustaining Jewish life and promoting a genuinely multicultural
society in a very challenging neighborhood. Azerbaijan continues to
grow relations with Israel despite pressure from its neighbors. We
don't have so many friends in the world. When we do, it is important
to reach out to them in return.
Rabbi Doug Kahn is executive director of the San Francisco-based
Jewish Community Relations Council.
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/70126/in-a-tough-neighborhood-azerbaijan-is-friend-of-the-jews/