Archive

Quba, Azerbaijan

Description

Qırmızı Qəsəbə is the centerpiece of Azerbaijani Mountain Jewish life. Established during the mid-18th century, a time when the land of present-day Azerbaijan was fractured among various 'khanates,' each with their own alliances and degrees of independence from larger powers in the region. The village was established by Fatali Khan of Quba, whose capital was in the location of the modern day city bearing that name. Fatali Khan invited the Jews of the region to establish a town across from his capital, according to some, because of the established position Jews held in cross Caucasian trade routes. It became a regional center for Jewish life and became divided into four main quarters that reflected the origins of the Jewish communities which settled there. These identities are still preserved in the names of some of their synagogues. According to some reports, at its height, the village boasted 12-15,000 inhabitants and at least 13 active synagogues. Under Soviet rule, only one synagogue remained active and the community struggled to retain many of its practices. However, the indigenous Judeo-Farsi language, 'Juhuri,' remained and is still the mother tongue of its denizens. Another practice that remains and is retained throughout the Mountain Jewish community occurs on Tisha B'Av, when family members from around the world return to their family graveplots to mourn their deceased relatives. While official reports place the town's population in the thousands, only about 350 total residents remain year round.

Click on the links below to learn more about Jewish sites in Quba. 

Jewish Cemetery #1: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2981/

Jewish Cemetery #2: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2982/

Jewish Cemetery #3: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2983/

Rabbi Rabileh (Gulgati) Synagogue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2976/

Namaz Rabban Yohel Xanuko Synagogoue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2978/

Gulgati (6 Domed Summer) Synagogue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2942/

Gilaki (Winter Synagogue): http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2941/

Namaz Rabban Yitzhak Synagogue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2977/

Elazar Levi Billiardi Synagogue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2979/

Rabban Ephraim Elazar Synagogue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2980/

Garui (Kruei) Synagogue, now Mountain Jews Museum: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/3007/

Rabbi Abai Synagogue and Study House: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/3006/

Kandu'i' Synagogue: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/3008/

Former Synagogue TBD: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/3009/

Maternity Ward: http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/2984/ 

 

Quba, Azerbaijan