The Azerbaijan State News Agency

CULTURE

The Jerusalem Post: The Sounds of Jerusalem in a tolerant Muslim state

Baku, August 27, AZERTAC

The Jerusalem Post has published an article by Iris Georlette headlined “The Sounds of Jerusalem in a tolerant Muslim state”, who hailed excellent level of organization of the Gabala Music Festival held in in the city of Gabala, Azerbaijan.

“The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (JSO) performed for the second time in the Gabala International Music Festival, held in Azerbaijan since 2009. Created by conductor Dmitri Yablonski and pianist Farhad Badalbeyli, the festival is one of the most important classical music events in Azerbaijan. The JSO was warmly received by classical music lovers in the city of Gabala,” Iris Georlette says in the article.

The company performed four concerts during the event and was met with much interest by the local audience, especially young people who "filled the hall until it was packed," says JSO head Yair Shtern in the article.

Georlette says that the music festival demonstrated the excellent relations Israel has with Azerbaijan, which is a predominantly Islamic state in the Shia tradition. “The historical relations between Azerbaijan and the Jewish communities living there were normally excellent. Jews had been living in Azerbaijan for over 2,500 years and the community claims it can trace back its' origin to the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III in 720 BCE.,” she says.

“However, modern scholars suggest that the mountain Jews of the Caucasus are descended from Persian speaking Jews who were scattered around the Persian empire. The decision made by many Jews to dwell in hard to reach places such as mountain tops served as a great benefit later when times proved hostile to Jews. For thousands of years the Jewish community of Azerbaijan spoke Judeo-Tat, a form of Farsi that uses Hebrew elements, and had little or no relations to other Jewish communities,” Georlette notes.

As the journalist writes, “This changed when Azerbaijan became part of the USSR in 1920 when it was invaded by the Red Army. The USSR at the time had great need of Baku's oil and the country remained within Soviet control until 1991 when it became an independent nation.”

Georlette mentions that the majority of Caucasus mountain Jews moved to Israel around that time. “Today most of the Jewish community resides in the capital of Azerbaijan Baku and is composed of the remaining mountain Jews, who are the largest Jewish group, Ashkenazim who settled in Azerbaijan from the late 19th century to the end of the Second World War where many found refuge there and Georgian Jews who made Baku their home in the early 20th century. Baku also has an active Chabad community, that will gladly offer Kosher food to any Jewish visitors.” she says.

“Qirmizi Qasaba” [Literally the Red Town] in the Quba district in north modern Azerbaijan is where most of the other Jews live. The town was created by Mountain Jews in the 13th century and was originally called "Hebrew Town". The name "Red Town" was coined by the Russians. Around 4,500 Jews live there today, in the past the town was the home of 18,000 Jews and boasted 18 active synagogues. But in 1938 Stalin deported the community leaders to Siberia and ordered all the synagogues closed save one, which is still active today,” she says.

"The local tradition is that every Tishaa BeAv local Jews come to Qirmizi Qasaba from their current homes in Moscow and New York where they usually have businesses to run and their relatives in Israel join them," the article quotes Dr. Hen Baram, a research fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem institute, as saying.

“In the town of Oghuz, that once boasted a Jewish community of Tat-speaking Mountain Jews, one can see two surviving synagogues. The town now boasts a small Jewish community that celebrates the Jewish holidays and warmly accept Jewish visitors from Russia. "The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev offers his personal support in the maintenance of these synagogues," says Dr. Baram.

"Azerbaijan is an amazing place for Israelis," says Arye Gut, an Israeli international relations expert. "Israel and Azerbaijan have incredible relations and trade relations that amount to five and a half billion USD per year. The relations also include military and intelligence aspects," Gut says.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Azerbaijan U-18 beach volleyball team wins silver in Latvia

Jacob Kiplimo obliterates half marathon world record in under 57 minutes during dominant Barcelona victory

Saudi Arabia to host US-Russia talks on Ukraine, as UK says it’s ‘ready and willing’ to put troops on ground

Sahiba Gafarova: Azerbaijani and Belarus Parliaments successfully collaborate within international organizations

Almaty eyes better air connectivity with China, targets extra flights in 2025

Euronews: Azerbaijan hosted a spectacular event for judo fans worldwide

Cooperation agreement on tourism between Azerbaijan and Türkiye approved  - ORDER

170 couples marry in mass ceremony in Afghanistan's Samangan

Azerbaijani delegation to attend 24th Winter Meeting of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna

Number of passengers transported by ASCO ferries increased by 20% last year

ANAMA: 935.6 hectares cleared of mines and UXOs over past week

BHOS teachers to deliver lectures in Bulgaria

'Conclave' and 'The Brutalist' dominate 2025 BAFTAs with four wins each

10 killed, several wounded in building collapse in Egypt

Another 42 families relocated to Jabrayil receive house keys VIDEO

TASS to hold 19th OANA General Assembly in St. Petersburg in June

33rd anniversary of the Garadaghly tragedy

ICESCO to host 3rd Youth Knowledge Forum

Pesticides causing widespread harm to animals and plants: Study

International Judo Federation commends Azerbaijan’s excellent organization of Baku Grand Slam 2025

® “Women Helpline Service” publishes results for 2024

Caspian Policy Center: Azerbaijan is one the of the key suppliers of secure and stable natural gas to Europe – INTERVIEW

BHOS student successfully completes research internship program in Japan

AZERTAC’s photo correspondent wins gold medal in international competition

Karabakh wedding customs: Traditions that have stood the test of time

Tehran hosts 3rd Caspian Economic Forum

Lassa fever kills 13 in southern Nigeria

NASA sets coverage of firefly’s first robotic commercial moon landing

Italy’s Naples rocked by 3.9-magnitude quake

JPW assisted over 17,000 women through 734 economic programmes last year in Malaysia

DSWD releases over 6K food packs to flood-hit Eastern Samar families

The overlooked astrocyte: Star-shaped brain cells may form specialized networks for reward learning

Pope's condition stable says Vatican

Oil prices surge in global markets

NBA All-Star Game: Steph Curry wins MVP after leading Shaq’s OGs to mini-tournament victory

Pope appoints Sr Petrini as President of Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State

Agaverdi Khalilov: The equestrian games of Karabakh showcase the richness of our culture

New DNA research could lead to personalized cancer prevention for smokers

Korean government suspends local service of Chinese AI app DeepSeek

Azerbaijani judokas claim five medals at Baku Grand Slam 2025

Azerbaijan relocates 42 more families to Jabrayil city VIDEO

UAE first Asian country to host FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Trophy Tour

Türkiye begins renovation of Damascus International Airport

Inter Milan denied Serie A top spot in loss at Juventus

Frankfurt sinks struggling Kiel to strengthen top-three standing

At least nine dead in US floods and heavy rain

Maddison's goal brings Tottenham 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry presents weekly summary of events

Azerbaijan Army holds military oath-taking ceremonies

Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah net as Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1

Azerbaijani FM attends reception marking Serbian Statehood Day

Azerbaijan and Ethiopian Investment Holdings sign Memorandum of Understanding

Jannik Sinner banned from tennis for 3 months for doping

Eight Azerbaijani athletes to compete at FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup in Baku

Caspian Sea turns red: Test results announced

Lavrov, Rubio agree to maintain contact, prepare for Putin-Trump summit

President Ilham Aliyev: Relations of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Lithuania have good traditions

To His Excellency Mr. Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania

Mother, toddler die from injuries sustained in Thursday's car-ramming attack in Germany

Azerbaijani FM heads to Serbia for working visit

Azerbaijani FM meets with Latvian counterpart in Munich

FM Bayramov discusses Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process with Romanian counterpart

Omar Marmoush treble fires Manchester City to Newcastle United victory in Premier League

Azerbaijani and Iraqi FMs discuss situation in Middle East

Bayern Munich held to goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen

Azerbaijan, Moldova discuss bilateral cooperation agenda

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry issues statement on so-called “snap presidential elections” in Georgia’s Abkhazia region

Jeyhun Bayramov briefs Turkish counterpart on Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process

Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria discuss strategic partnership

Azerbaijan, North Macedonia discuss development of economic and trade relations

Azerbaijani judoka wins Grand Slam gold

Azerbaijani, Lithuanian FMs meet in Munich

Azerbaijan, OSCE discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation

Chancellor Scholz slams US vice president for German election interference

Opening ceremony officially kicks off Baku Grand Slam

Azerbaijan, Guinea explore collaboration opportunities in various sectors

Earthquake strikes Russia's Altai region

To His Excellency Mr. Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia

Turkish foreign minister discusses Syria, Gaza, Ukraine with US counterpart in Munich

Amazon accused by Italy of evading €1.2bn in VAT payments

SOCAR and Asian Development Bank discuss potential cooperation opportunities

Azerbaijani oil price falls below $77

Six killed, 10 injured as van collides with trawler in Pakistan

Pakistan approves collaborative venture between PSO and SOCAR Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani, Serbian FMs discuss strategic partnership in Munich

Azerbaijani FM meets with Secretary General of Council of Europe

Azerbaijani, Israeli FMs discuss regional matters

Trial of Armenians accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war and other grave crimes continues VİDEO

Azerbaijan, Kuwait hold political consultations

Azerbaijan, ADB explore cooperation

Azerbaijan Air Force military unit marks establishment anniversary

Azerbaijan makes successful start at Baku Grand Slam 2025

Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission announces general voting results of municipal elections

Munich Security Conference kicks off as Ukraine, Middle East top agenda

President Ilham Aliyev congratulates Syria’s transitional President

Azerbaijani athletes ready for action in Balkan Athletics Indoor Championships

To His Excellency Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic for transitional period

Study finds that people who entrust tasks to AI are losing critical thinking skills

Press Release of the Secretariat of the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia

Cyclone Zelia makes landfall in Western Australia