Museum of Mountain Jews

The Museum of Mountain Jews (Azerbaijani: Dağ Yəhudiləri Muzeyi) is a museum in Guba, Azerbaijan, dedicated to Mountain Jews. Opened in 2020, it is located in the 19th-century Karzhog Synagogue.[2][3] It is the first and only museum in the world devoted to Mountain Jews.[3]

Museum of Mountain Jews
Azerbaijani: Dağ Yəhudiləri Muzeyi
Established2020
LocationRashbil Zakharyayev st. 7, Qırmızı Qəsəbə, Quba, Azerbaijan[1]
Coordinates41°22′03″N 48°30′35″E
Websitehttps://jewish-museum.az/

History of the building

The museum is located in the 19 th century Karzhog synagogue in the Gyrmyzy Gasaba. After the Soviet occupation, the synagogue was closed.[4] A warehouse of agricultural products was located here.[5] After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the synagogue was left empty.[6] The synagogue, which remained for years, fell into disrepair. Later, major restoration works were carried out here. The building has a room height of more than 5 meters and is square in shape. A second floor has been added to much of the building to explore more exhibits here. In the basement of the building, a conference hall, a library, and a room for reserve exhibits had been made.[7]

Founding the museum

The idea of establishing the Museum of Mountain Jews came up in 2017. Kardzog Synagogue, which had been abandoned for many years, was chosen for the administrative building of the museum. The old synagogue was restored.[8] Russian businessmen God Nisanov, Zarah Iliev, German Zakharyayev supported the construction of the museum. In addition, the "STMEQI" foundation took on the responsibility of providing the museum with exhibits. This foundation is the largest organization uniting Mountain Jews in the world. During the preparation of the museum, the foundation called upon the diaspora and communities to find the ancient artifacts.[9]

Exhibition

There are exhibits on the traditions, general history, occupations, history of the Mountain Jews living in Gyrmyzy Gasaba. There is a corner with the name of the rabbis who worked in the Caucasus throughout the period[10] and also a corner designated to the National Hero of Azerbaijan Albert Agarunov.[11] There is his medal in the corner dedicated to Albert Agarunov.

References
  1. "Dağ Yəhudiləri Muzeyi / Əlaqə" (in Azerbaijani). jewish-museum.az. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. Ləman İsmayılova (February 6, 2020). "World's first Mountain Jews Museum opens in Azerbaijan". azernews.az. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  3. "Discover the centuries-old culture of Mountain Jews in Azerbaijan". Euronews. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  4. Ilham Karimli (February 8, 2020). "Historical Museum Opens in Azerbaijan's All-Jewish Town". caspiannews.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  5. Timur Rzayev (October 11, 2017). "В Азербайджане откроется первый в мире музей горских евреев" (in Russian). 1news.az. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  6. "Первый в мире музей горских евреев откроется в Азербайджане" (in Russian). stmegi.com. October 15, 2017. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  7. Samira Kazımova (May 18, 2021). "Директор Музея горских евреев Игорь Шаулов: Мы собрали в Азербайджане уникальные экспонаты со всего мира" (in Russian). moscow-baku.ru. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  8. "Businessmen God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev Building Unique Museum in Azerbaijan". foundationguide.org. 2019. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  9. "Dünyada dağ yəhudilərinin ilk muzeyi Azərbaycanda yaradılır" (in Azerbaijani). Azərbaycan Dövlət İnformasiya Agentliyi. August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  10. "Light of faith". jewish-museum.az. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  11. Larri Luksner (September 23, 2020). "Azerbaijan's Mountain Jews Museum could spark tourism revival, eventually / Azərbaycanın Dağ Yəhudiləri Muzeyi, turizmin canlanmasına səbəb ola bilər". jpost.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
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