Mountain Jews

Ethnic group Mountain Jews , or Juhuri , are Jews of the eastern Caucasus , mainly of Azerbaijan and Dagestan . They are also known as Caucasus Jews , Caucasian Jews , or less commonly East Caucasian Jews , because the majority of these Jews settled the eastern part of Caucasus, though there were also historical settlements in Northwest Caucasus. The name "Mountain Jews" or "Caucasian Jews" is something of a misnomer, as it does not include Georgian Jews of the Caucasus Mountains . In terms of ethnic origin, it is assumed that the Mountain Jews and Tats have inhabited Caucasia for a long time. Their distant forefathers once lived in southwest Persia , the south-western part of present-day Iran. It was there that they adopted the Middle Persian language. The predecessors of the Mountain Jews settled in Caucasian Albania in the 5th–6th century and from that time on their history has been related to the mountains and the people of Dagestan. After fleeing persecution in Persia, they migrated north to mountain villages on both sides of the high peaks between the Black Sea and the Caspian. They still speak a dialect of Persian and few Juhuri know more than the odd Hebrew phrase. The fall of the Soviet Union, however, in 1991 prompted a mass exodus. In recent years, the population has plummeted as inhabitants emigrate to Israel, America and Europe. It is the last stronghold of the Caucasus Mountain Jews, or Juhuri. The number of Juhuro in the Caucasus regions outside Azerbaijan is also declining rapidly. In neighbouring Russia , the threat of Islamic fundamentalism and other violence has forced thousands of Mountain Jews to emigrate from Dagestan .

They are the descendants of Persian Jews from Iran . The Mountain Jews community originated from Ancient Persia , from the 5th century AD onwards, and their language, Juhuri is an ancient Southwest Iranian language and a Persian dialect which integrates many elements of Ancient Hebrew . It is believed that they had arrived in Persia from Ancient Israel as early as the 8th century BCE. The Mountain Jews survived numerous historical vicissitudes by settling in extremely remote and mountainous areas. They were known to be accomplished warriors and horseback riders. Mountain Jews are distinct from Georgian Jews of the Caucasus Mountains . Both are culturally and ethnically different with independent languages and many differences in customs and culture. They are also distinct from culturally similar Bukharan Jews . "Динамика численности горских евреев , Новости горских евреев" . Динамика численности горских евреев , Новости горских евреев . Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shemaʻʼilov, Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 17 Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shemaʻʼilov, Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 9

Ethnic group Mountain Jews or Caucasus Jews also known as Juhuro, Juvuro, Juhuri, Juwuri , Juhurim, Kavkazi Jews or Gorsky Jews ( , Yehudey Kavkaz or Yehudey he-Harim , Russian: Горские евреи ) are Jews of the eastern and northern Caucasus , mainly Azerbaijan , and various republics in the Russian Federation : Chechnya , Dagestan , Karachay-Cherkessia , and Kabardino-Balkaria . They are the descendants of Persian Jews from Iran . The Mountain Jews community became established in Ancient Persia , from the 5th century BCE onwards; their language, called Judeo-Tat , is an ancient Southwest Iranian language which integrates many elements of Ancient Hebrew . It is believed that they had reached Persia from Ancient Israel as early as the 8th century BCE. They continued to migrate east, settling in mountainous areas of the Caucasus. The Mountain Jews survived numerous historical vicissitudes by settling in extremely remote and mountainous areas. They were known to be accomplished warriors and horseback riders. The main Mountain Jew settlement in Azerbaijan is Qırmızı Qəsəbə , also called Jerusalem of the Caucasus. In Russian, Qırmızı Qəsəbə was once called Еврейская Слобода (translit. Yevreyskaya Sloboda ), "Jewish Village"; but during Soviet times it was renamed Красная Слобода (translit. Krasnaya Sloboda ), "Red Village." Mountain Jews are distinct from Georgian Jews of the Caucasus Mountains . The two groups are culturally and ethnically different, speaking different languages and having many differences in customs and culture. "In Wien leben rund 220 kaukasische Juden" (in German). The Jews of Khazaria (2 ed.). The traditional language of the Mountain Jews, is part of the Iranian language family and contains many Hebrew elements. In Juhuri, they call themselves Juhuri (Derbent dialect) or Juwuri (Kuba dialect), and in Russian they are known as Gorskie Yevrey . The Jews of Khazaria (2 ed.). The traditional language of the Mountain Jews, Juhuri, is part of the Iranian language family and contains many Hebrew elements. (...) In reality, the Mountain Jews primarily descend from Persian Jews who came to the Caucasus during the fifth and sixth centuries. "Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shema", Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 17 Goluboff, Sascha (Mar 6, 2012). Jewish Russians: Upheavals in a Moscow Synagogue .

The Mountain Jews are the descendants of Persian Jews from Iran , and fall within the Mizrachi category of Jews. Mountain Jews took shape as a community after Qajar Iran ceded the areas in which they lived to the Russian Empire as part of the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813. The forerunners of the Mountain Jewish community have inhabited Ancient Persia from the 5th century BCE. The language spoken by Mountain Jews, called Judeo-Tat , is an ancient Southwest Iranian language which integrates many elements of Ancient Hebrew . It is believed that Mountain Jews had reached Persia from Israel as early as the 8th century BCE. They continued to migrate east, settling in mountainous areas of the Caucasus. Mountain Jews survived numerous historical vicissitudes by settling in extremely remote and mountainous areas. They were known to be accomplished warriors and horseback riders. Mountain Jews are distinct from Georgian Jews of the Caucasus Mountains . The two groups are culturally differentiated: they speak different languages and have many differences in customs and culture. "In Wien leben rund 220 kaukasische Juden" (in German). The Jews of Khazaria (2 ed.). The traditional language of the Mountain Jews, is part of the Iranian language family and contains many Hebrew elements. In Juhuri, they call themselves Juhuri (Derbent dialect) or Juwuri (Kuba dialect), and in Russian they are known as Gorskie Yevrey . The Jews of Khazaria (2 ed.). The traditional language of the Mountain Jews, Juhuri, is part of the Iranian language family and contains many Hebrew elements. (...) In reality, the Mountain Jews primarily descend from Persian Jews who came to the Caucasus during the fifth and sixth centuries. Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World . The Mountain Jews are an Iranian-speaking community that took shape in the eastern and northern Caucasus after the areas in which they lived were annexed by Russia from Qajar Iran in 1812 and 1813. "Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shema", Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 17 Goluboff, Sascha (Mar 6, 2012). Jewish Russians: Upheavals in a Moscow Synagogue . Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shemaʻʼilov, Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 9

Mountain Jews took shape as a community after Qajar Iran ceded the areas in which they lived to the Russian Empire as part of the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813. The forerunners of the Mountain Jewish community have inhabited Ancient Persia since the 5th century BCE. The language spoken by Mountain Jews, called Judeo-Tat , is an ancient Southwest Iranian language which integrates many elements of Ancient Hebrew . It is believed that Mountain Jews in Persia, as early as the 8th century BCE, continued to migrate east, settling in mountainous areas of the Caucasus. Mountain Jews survived numerous historical vicissitudes by settling in extremely remote and mountainous areas. They were known to be accomplished warriors and horseback riders. Mountain Jews are distinct from Georgian Jews of the Caucasus Mountains . The two groups are culturally differentiated; they speak different languages and have differences in customs. "The History of Azerbaijan Jewish Community (The 20th Century and the Beginning of the 21st Century)" . Kwartalnik Historii Żydów . 259 (03): 761– 769. "In Wien leben rund 220 kaukasische Juden" (in German). The Jews of Khazaria (2 ed.). The traditional language of the Mountain Jews, is part of the Iranian language family and contains many Hebrew elements. In Juhuri, they call themselves Juhuri (Derbent dialect) or Juwuri (Kuba dialect), and in Russian they are known as Gorskie Yevrey . The Jews of Khazaria (2 ed.). The traditional language of the Mountain Jews, Juhuri, is part of the Iranian language family and contains many Hebrew elements. (...) In reality, the Mountain Jews primarily descend from Persian Jews who came to the Caucasus during the fifth and sixth centuries. Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World . The Mountain Jews are an Iranian-speaking community that took shape in the eastern and northern Caucasus after the areas in which they lived were annexed by Russia from Qajar Iran in 1812 and 1813. "Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shema", Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 17 Goluboff, Sascha (Mar 6, 2012). Jewish Russians: Upheavals in a Moscow Synagogue . Mountain Jews: customs and daily life in the Caucasus , Leʼah Miḳdash-Shemaʻʼilov, Liya Mikdash-Shamailov, Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), UPNE, 2002, page 9 There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).