Jewish life in Azerbaijan embodies Muslim-majority nation’s culture of tolerance

Located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and bordered by Iran, Armenia, Georgia, and Russia, Azerbaijan’s Jewish community can trace its roots back some 2,000 years. Throughout that period—and even during the years from 1918 to 1990, when it was a part of the Soviet Union—Azerbaijan has prided itself on its tradition of tolerance and acceptance of minorities. Among the country’s population of 9 million, 95 percent are Muslim and about 12,000 residents are Jews. 

As part of a recent delegation to Azerbaijan from Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, I visited a total of six synagogues as well as a Jewish day school and Jewish Community Center. There were no police, private guards, or noticeable security measures at those sites. This is truly remarkable, given that even in a city such as Los Angeles, private guards are very much in evidence at all Jewish establishments, while in many European cities, one is greeted by metal detectors and soldiers with automatic weapons at the entrances of most synagogues and Jewish schools. Azeri Jews can also walk the streets wearing yarmulkes without fear of being harassed.

The Chabad Or Avner Jewish Day School, located on a beautifully maintained park-like campus in a Baku suburb, is an exception when it comes to government support. According to Rabbi Segal, it is 100-percent supported by private funds. (During our visit, a Kurdish-Jewish merchant pledged $50,000.) The school has 200 students from kindergarten to 11th grade, and 40 teachers on staff. It follows government rules regarding standards and curriculum, but also includes English language and Hebrew language classes for all students and has a state-of-the-art computer lab. Segal said that "thanks to the Jewish school, more and more young people identify themselves as Jews and are becoming more active in Jewish life.”  

In the mountains situated northwest of Baku—about two hours by bus or car on a modern highway—is the city of Quba, a section of which is known as the Red Village. It was founded 270 years ago by Jewish immigrants from Turkey and Iran. During the Soviet period it was known as Jew Village, given the fact that it has a Jewish population of some 4,000, thus making it one of the largest Jewish villages outside of Israel. The region in which Red Village is located is an ideal summer vacation destination, which is one, but not the only, reason why many so-called "Moscow Jews” maintain luxurious homes there to which they return each summer. Essentially, this nearly doubles the Jewish population of the village. ("Moscow Jews” are Azeri-Jewish emigrants who established business and became wealthy in post-Soviet Russia.)

As pleasant and accepting as life is in Azerbaijan, the country nonetheless has its problems, especially where the elderly, the ill, and people with disabilities are concerned. Social services, whether governmental or connected to the Jewish community, do not fill all of the many needs. Dr. Larissa Reikhrudel, a Jewish pediatrician, decided to do something about this and founded the "Jewish Women of Azerbaijan Humanitarian Public Organization.” With private funding, mostly from oil companies, her organization provides a quasi "Meals on Wheels” service for the homebound elderly and has organized "dining clubs” for children and mothers in need, all without regard to religious affiliation. Reikhrudel, a petite and energetic woman, saw a need and filled it when the organized community lagged behind.

Azerbaijan, a small country with a big heart, sets an example for the world and is truly a blessing for Jews in search of a safe haven in a dangerous regional neighborhood.