History of the Jews in Makhachkala

Last updated
Makhachkala Jews
יהודי מחצ'קלה
Махачкалинские евреи
Mountain jewish men.jpg
Total population
300–430
Languages
Hebrew (in Israel), Judeo-Tat, Russian
Religion
Judaism
Related ethnic groups
Mountain Jews, Ashkenazi Jews.

The Jewish community in Makhachkala consists of Jews who have lived in the territory of modern Makhachkala, a city in the Russian Republic of Dagestan. During the Persian campaign in 1722, Makhachkala hosted a camp for the troops of Russian Emperor Peter I. Both Mountain Jews and Ashkenazi Jews were allowed to settle there. [1]

Contents

History

Makhachkala Synagogue. 2022. Makhachkala Synagogue.jpg
Makhachkala Synagogue. 2022.

Khazars

During the era of the Khazar Khanate, there was a Khazar settlement in the village of Tarki near Makhachkala. [2] Many Khazar scholars believe that the capital of the Khazar Khanate, the city of Samandar, [3] was located on the site of modern Makhachkala. According to Ibn Hawqal, Jews lived in the city of Samandar in the 10th century and had their own synagogues. [2]

Russian empire

In 1862, the first synagogue was built in the city, where both Ashkenazi Jews and Mountain Jews, including 61 artisans and 20 soldiers of the local garrison, prayed. [1]

Soviet Union

Russia

During the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in 1998−1999, several representatives of the Jewish community were kidnapped for ransom. Many Jews from Makhachkala left for Israel and other countries and regions. [8]

Amidst the Gaza war, a group waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-semitic slogans forcefully entered the Makhachkala airport, looking for Israeli and Jewish travelers arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv. The incident resulted in about 20 injuries, as reported by local health authorities. Passports of some passengers were scrutinized by the crowd. [12] [13]

During the attack in Dagestan on 23 June 2024, Makhachkala's synagogue was set on fire by armed gunmen, possibly affiliated with ISIS. [14] [15]

Notable Jews of Makhachkala

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hana Rafael. In the homeland of our ancestors: the Jews of Makhachkala. 2013.
  2. 1 2 Ilya Karpenko. Juhuro In The Country Of Mountains. 2007.
  3. Dictionary of modern geographical names. — Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of an academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Makhachkala
  5. "Petrovskoye." Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron. Russia, St. Petersburg, 1906—1913
  6. The honorary chairman of the Council of Jewish Communities of Dagestan, Shimi Dibiyaev, has passed away. Ministry of National Policy and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Dagestan. March 24, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Danil Danilov. Changes in the Makhachkala synagogue. STMEGI. 14 июль 2017.
  8. Jewish hostages
  9. Anti-Semitic incidents in Russia
  10. Attack on a synagogue in Makhachkala
  11. A sharp outbreak of anti-Semitism in Dagestan
  12. "Hundreds storm airport in Russia in antisemitic riot over arrival of plane from Israel - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  13. "Anti-Israel mob storms Dagestan airport in Russia". BBC News. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  14. Gunmen in Russia’s Dagestan attack churches, synagogue and police post. 06-23-2024.
  15. Gunmen Kill at Least 6 at Synagogue and Churches in Russian Republic. 06-23-2024.