The World's Last Shtetl: Why This Remote Town in Azerbaijan is a Miracle?
Tucked away in the Caucasus Mountains of Azerbaijan, a unique community of "Mountain Jews" has survived for centuries, maintaining ancient traditions and serving as a beacon of religious harmony.
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In the lush foothills of Azerbaijan, just across the Kudyal River, from the city of Quba, lies a settlement that defies modern geopolitical norms. Known as "Qırmızı Qəsəbə" in Azerbaijani and Krasnaya Sloboda in Russianor, "the Red Village" is widely considered the last fully Jewish town in the world outside of Israel and the United States.
The community known as the "Mountain Jews" has a history in the Caucasus that spans millennia. Their ancestors are believed to have settled there as far back as the 5th century BCE, fleeing persecution in ancient Persia, and finding refuge in the remote rugged mountains. This isolation allowed them to preserve a unique culture including their own language, "Jahuri", a dialect of the Persian family with elements of Hebrew and Aramaic.
The village's modern story began in the 18th century. After a period of unrest, a local Muslim ruler, Huseyn Ali Khan, offered the Mountain Jews protection and a place to settle, establishing a new community across the river from his capital. This act of tolerance laid the foundation for a peaceful coexistence, that has endured for centuries with Jews and Muslims living as neighbors in a unique example of interfaith harmony.
Today, the Red Village is a vibrant mix of old and new. Its streets are home to beautifully restored synagogues, a museum dedicated to the history of Mountain Jews, and stately mansions built by wealthy expatriates, who send money back to their hometown. These successful businessmen, many of whom are prominent figures in Russia and Israel, are a testament to the communitys industriousness and strong family ties.
Despite its enduring spirit and the financial support from its diaspora, the village faces an uncertain future. Its population, which once peaked at estimated 18.000 people, has dwindled to around 3.000, as many young people move abroad in search of better economic opportunities. However, those who remain are fiercely committed to preserving their heritage, ensuring that the legacy of this extraordinary community will not be lost to history.