Azerbaijan, which is a kind of bridge between the western and eastern civilizations, historically represented a unique platform of interweaving world cultures, which allowed laying the principles of good neighborliness, freedom of religion, interethnic and interreligious tolerance in the Azerbaijani culture. In the territory of modern day Azerbaijan, where the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, different nationalities, religious communities, one of which is a Jewish community, coexist peacefully for many centuries. In this article, we will talk about the high level of tolerance of Azerbaijanis with the example of participation of the Jewish community in the socio-political life of the country.
Over the last few years anti-Semitism is at rise. Jews are targeted and victimized at synagogues, schools, universities and cities. According to FBI in 2015 the number of hate crimes against minorities increased by 7 percent in the US. Over the reporting period, more than 50% of religiously motivated hate crimes were directed against Jews in the United States, who make up less than 2% of the population, while approximately 20% of religiously motivated attacks were targeted against Muslims and about 4% against Catholics. According to the official information of the New York Police Department, in January-February 2017, the number of attacks on Jews in the United States increased by 94% compared to the same period last year.
Unfortunately, anti-Semitic sentiments are spreading more and more in Europe, particularly in Germany, France, Hungary, Spain, Poland and other countries. Jewish communities in Europe are faced with an increased level of anti-Semitism that unfolds in various forms: anti-Semitic hate speech, physical threats and violence in the streets, and especially deadly terrorist attacks against European Jews and Jewish organizations in major cities such as Paris, Brussels , Copenhagen. In fact, the Agency for Fundamental Rights beats the alarm about the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe. According to the report of the Agency, 21% of European Jews survived at least one anti-Semitic incident in the last 12 months. And, as a result, an average 29% of European Jews plan to move to Israel. In addition, PEW reports have revealed that in many Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East, hatred for the Jewish people and Israel is very strong. Seeing this extremely aggressive attitude toward oneself, some Jews are forced to move to Israel, Canada and other safer places.
While in Europe, South and North America, Australia, Iran and other predominantly Muslim countries, anti-Semitic sentiments openly manifest, Jews in Azerbaijan have never encountered any manifestations of anti-Semitism. On the contrary, many representatives of the Jewish community of Azerbaijan are accepted and take an active part in the political, cultural, social and economic life of Azerbaijan. Today in the city of the winds - in Baku there are memorials plaques on the buildings where prominent Jewish representatives lived, such as Nobel laureate, theoretical physicist Lev Landau, Honored Doctor of the Republic Solomon Gusman, Hero of the Karabakh War, National Hero of Azerbaijan Albert Agarunov. Evda Abramov also represents the interests of the Jewish community in the Azerbaijani parliament. And the village of Krasnaya Sloboda, located in the north-eastern part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range of the Guba District of Azerbaijan, on the left bank of the Kudialchay River, is the only place of compact residence of Mountain Jews in the entire post-Soviet space. Residents of the village feel comfortable, and live in complete safety and harmony with their neighbors.
A few months ago, a branch of the international STMEGI fund was registered in Azerbaijan, which deals with the problems of Mountain Jews. Its branches already exist in Russia and Israel. The foundation is chaired by a well-known public figure, a native of Krasnaya Sloboda, German Zakharyaev.
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Over the past 15 years, the STMEGI Foundation has conducted and supported dozens of events around the world, including Azerbaijan, on topics related to the experience of the republic in promoting tolerance and multiculturalism. And recently, with the assistance of STMEGA, the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar visited the settlement of Krasnaya Sloboda and expressed satisfaction with the conditions created here.
In a world of interethnic and religious hatred, Azerbaijan rises as a perfect model of multiculturalism, with no anti-Semitism nor xenophobia.
As Benjamin Nagel, director of European affairs for the international Jewish organization Bnei Brit, stated in an interview with the author, Azerbaijan has a unique and rich Jewish history spanning more than three millennia and dating back to the times of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king.
"The Jewish community is well integrated and accepted to the Azerbaijani society. Integration of Jews in Azerbaijan can be considered as a role model, as well as propaganda of strong relations of our countries, which has turned into a fruitful cooperation and trade agreements in the field of technology and, especially, energy since the early 1990s, "he said.
The American scientist, professor of English studies and Judaism of the Indian University in Bloomington, founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Modern Anti-Semitism (ISCA) at the Indian University Alvin Rosenfeld said that he read a little about the history of the mountain Jews of Azerbaijan and knows that the communities of these people have lived in Azerbaijan for many centuries.
"In many predominantly Muslim countries there used to be a large number of Jews, but now it’s not so, therefore, in this regard, Azerbaijan is a model. The fact that the state policy of your country maintains tolerance and ensures the safe life of Jews, is highly appreciated, "the professor said.
Various ethnic groups and religious denominations historically lived in Azerbaijan as one big and friendly family, which is a natural phenomenon, as the necessary democratic and legal basis for preserving and developing the language and culture of national minorities, their customs and traditions. It is with pride that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in the world where the state support is provided to religious communities and denominations. In order not to be unfounded, I will give a few facts.
The first fact. The synagogue, opened on March 9, 2003 in Baku, is one of the largest in Europe.
The second fact. In September 2003 the first Jewish school was opened in Baku.
The third fact. The educational center "Khabad-Or-Avner", which was commissioned on October 4, 2010, for Jewish children living in Baku was built by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the International Fund "Or-Avner" within the framework of the project "Address of Tolerance - Azerbaijan" . The center for 450 pupils is taught the basics of Jewish culture.
The fourth fact. In March 2011, in Baku, with the support of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, a beautiful synagogue for the community of Mountain Jews was built and commissioned.
There are plenty of such facts. Currently, several synagogues are functioning in Baku, as well as in the cities of Guba and Oguz. Annually the Jewish religious community functioning in the republic is allocated material aid from the state budget. At the initiative of the Organization of Jewish Women of Azerbaijan, the first Jewish kindergarten was opened, which is equipped with the most modern equipment. There are 5 Jewish schools functioning in Baku and Guba. Moreover, classes on studying Hebrew, Jewish culture and history were opened on the basis of the Baku school No. 46 of the city. And the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Baku State University included the teaching of Hebrew to the teaching program.
All the above facts certainly indicate that Azerbaijan is an oasis of stability and tolerance, that the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are a good example of the friendship of Jews and Muslims.Additionaly, the authorities of countries where anti-Semitic sentiments are manifested, it would be worthwhile to think about adjusting their ethnic policy towards Jews, creating normal conditions for their safety and strengthening the integration of Jews into sociopolitical life of their states. Today, the key countries of the world oppose anti-Semitism, in fact we see a completely different picture: in their countries, the rights of Jews are grossly violated, they are offended, and physical violence is applied against them. If a country openly attacks Jews, as in the case of a raped Israeli woman in the French city of Créteil in 2014, then the responsibility for this is also imposed on the authorities of the country, since ensuring the rights of members of national minorities must be part of their direct duties. Hence, the authorities of these countries do not conduct at the proper level measures to end the practice of discrimination on religious grounds, as well as appropriate propaganda among their peoples. Azerbaijan, unlike many countries of the world, has proved and proved more than once that religious communities and confessions can coexist peacefully side by side, as the world community was convinced of itself. So what are the European and Middle Eastern countries waiting for? Is it not time to adopt the experience of tolerance in Azerbaijan? I want to believe that over time the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism will be integrated with the example of Jews in countries where a disrespectful attitude towards Jews is demonstrated.
Author: Seymur Mamedov
