Jewish Community in Baku Sees Growth, Prepares for Holiday Visitors

The new school year has begun for Baku's Jewish educational institutions, with community leaders reporting a significant increase in student enrollment in schools and kindergartens. This growth is seen as a reflection of strengthening Jewish life in the Azerbaijani capital, where a comprehensive community infrastructure now operates, including synagogues, a rabbinical court, kashrut services, Torah classes, and welfare programs. An estimated 15,000 Jews, comprising Mountain Jews, Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and Georgian Jews, reside in Baku.

Rabbi Zamir Isayev, the Chief Rabbi and Chairman of the Sephardic Community, has been instrumental in expanding community institutions and bolstering educational, kashrut, religious, and Torah activities. He also represents the community to local authorities and internationally, highlighting Jewish life in Azerbaijan as an example of an openly and securely living community in a Muslim country. The Jewish educational system includes schools and kindergartens, with ongoing Torah classes for all ages, special programs for women, and events throughout the year.

This educational expansion is particularly meaningful given the history of Jews in the region, who experienced severe restrictions under Soviet rule. Today, a new generation is receiving organized and open Jewish education. Baku hosts three active synagogues and community centers, with the main center and synagogue serving the Ashkenazi and Georgian communities, alongside a Chabad House offering daily prayers, classes, and Shabbat meals.

The community also operates a local rabbinical court for marriage registration, Jewish status inquiries, and Halachic guidance, alongside a developing kashrut system that includes local kosher meat, food product supervision, and a recently opened high-quality dairy restaurant, with more kosher establishments expected. The growing number of Jewish and Israeli tourists is also catered to by these services.

As the High Holidays approach, the community is preparing for a surge in visitors. Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah are expected to draw thousands of local Jews and international visitors to Baku for prayers and festive meals. This influx presents a significant logistical challenge, requiring preparation for prayer spaces, meals, kosher food, and additional services, all while maintaining regular services for the local Jewish population.

Beyond religious and educational activities, Baku's Jewish community also runs extensive welfare programs, including a visiting-the-sick initiative, social assistance for needy families, and a community kitchen providing hot meals and hosting holiday feasts. A local Chevra Kadisha ensures proper Jewish burial and maintains Jewish cemeteries. Jewish life in Baku flourishes with full religious freedom, supported by local authorities, allowing for the open operation of synagogues, schools, kashrut services, and a rabbinical court.