Day One, May 2, 2017



It was my honor to be invited by Mr. Nasimi Aghayev , the Consul General of Azerbaijan to the west coast USA to partake in two days ‘4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue – Baku Process.’ The visit included a 3 day of getting acquainted with the 20-year-old country, a former USSR satellite, that very few people know about or are familiar with.

I knew ahead of time that what makes the country so unique, in a world that coexistence is hardly possible, is that you are first and foremost a proud Azerbaijanian, regardless of your faith. In that small country of approximately 10 million people, the three monotheistic, or what the locals call Abrahamic religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism live to tell a story of harmonious existence.

I flew with Turkish Airlines into Istanbul and from there a short two-and-a-half-hour flight into Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, or as the locals spell it Azerbaycan.

Azerbaijan, predominately a Moslem country, of a Arabian culture influence, is rich with black gold, oil. It is located between Russia to the north, Iran to the south, Georgia and Armenia to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east.

At the very new Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, a city of approximately 4 million people, nestled on Caspian Sea shores, upon my arrival, just pass midnight local time, a representative of the Ministry of culture and Tourism and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed me and made sure that I enter the country with no hitch. A car with a driver was waiting for us outside to take me to my designated hotel, the Fairmount, a gorgeous five-star hotel on the hill, overlooking the bay. The approximately 20-minute ride from the airport to the hotel was on an empty of cars highway and city streets. No car in sight. So far so good, top hospitality Fairmount Hotel

Fairmount Hotel lobby

Baku typical cab Fairmount HotelFairmount Hotel lobbyBaku typical cab

My schedule was prearranged by my hosts and I was put in the hands of Mr. Elgun Mehdiyev, a charming young man from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Since that my visit’s emphasis is on intercultural dialogue and since that I am Jewish, I am first to be introduced to the Jewish community which Azerbaijan is so proud of.

There are three Jews’ groups in Azerbaijan: The Mountain Jews, the Georgian Jews and the Ashkenazi Jews.

Few hours of rest and I was to meet my Azerbaijanian fellow Jews, The Mountain Jews.

The Hidden 2500 Years History of the Jews of Azerbaijan Accompanied by Mr. Mehdiyev, we picked up Mr. Milikh Yevdayev, the chairman of Baku Mountain Jews Community and we drove approximately 200 kilometers to Quba (Guba) the capital of the Quba Rayon (district) where a Jewish community of approximately 4,000 Jews live in what is known to be the Red Village, due to the red bricks houses of the village. L-our driver Teymur Valiyev, Milikh Yevdayev, Umay Hasanova, me and Elgun Mehdiyev, backgound Quba L-our driver Teymur Valiyev, Milikh Yevdayev, Umay Hasanova, me and Elgun Mehdiyev, backgound Quba Mountain Jews Village in the forefront, back Quba Mountain Jews Village in the forefront, back Quba



As the story goes, these Jews’ ancestors were exiled from Judea to Babylon, after the first Jewish Temple was totally destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Some Jews returned from exile to the land of Israel, many did not and they spread all over the region. Mountain Jew woman in front of her home Mountain Jew woman in front of her home

The village, 300 years old, of narrow streets, is burrowed by the Qudyalchay River; the Jews living there are Sephardic. In 1730, Huseyn Ali, the ruler of the Quba Khanate issued a decree according to which Jews could own property in the khanate and invited them to settle there. The Jews accepted the invitation and the community grew. They created their own Jewish culture, some of Moslem tradition, such as taking one’s shoes off when entering their synagogues or learning centers, and they adhere to it with pride till today.

Mr. Yevdayev claims to be the product of the Soviet Union and his village’s synagogues and Jewish learning centers were desecrated by the Russian Communists. There were 14 synagogues before the Communists took over Azerbaijan and turned them into factories or destroyed them. But since Azerbaijan became independent

Milikh Yevdayev Chairman of Baku Mountain Jews Community, inside the village Winter Synagogue

Mountain Jews winter synagogue Holy Ark

Mountain Jews Village Winter Synagogue Inside floor carpeted with indigenous hand made rugs

Mountain Jews Village 400 years old summer synagogue with Russian motif; the Russians turned into sawing factory now under renovation

Entrance to Mountain Jews Village 400 years old summer synagogue with Russian motif; the Russians turned into sawing factory now under renovation

Mountain Jews Village today's newspaper

By the Qudyalchay River - Jewish wedding hall

Stop over on the road with shops, a mosque on 30 August 1991, things are looking up for all the country’s citizens. The Mountain Jew’s Village is going through a revival and the synagogues there are, one by one, being restored.Milikh Yevdayev Chairman of Baku Mountain Jews Community, inside the village Winter SynagogueMountain Jews winter synagogue Holy ArkMountain Jews Village Winter Synagogue Inside floor carpeted with indigenous hand made rugsMountain Jews Village 400 years old summer synagogue with Russian motif; the Russians turned into sawing factory now under renovationEntrance to Mountain Jews Village 400 years old summer synagogue with Russian motif; the Russians turned into sawing factory now under renovationMountain Jews Village today's newspaperBy the Qudyalchay River - Jewish wedding hallStop over on the road with shops, a mosque

We ended the day with a delicious Azerbaijan country style meal. No need to seek organic food. The food is of the taste that we, the city kids, long forgotten.



Typical house outside Baku, a modern city; it is small, square with corrugated iron roof Azerbaijan is a new country and off to a very good start. You may ask why? Because if you know Jewish history you know that Jews are a symbol of persecution and victims of human rights crimes. But not in Azerbaijan. If Jews prefer and stick by living safely, happily and freely in a remote region of Azerbaijan you know that the country is off to a good start.Typical house outside Baku, a modern city; it is small, square with corrugated iron roof