Cuba is a well-known district of Azerbaijan. Baku villages: no women in sight. Men of vari­ did live here before. Also, Mountain Jews who It has magnificent nature: forests, springs, wa­ ous ages with Jewish hats on their heads greeted escaped attacks and persecution found refuge terfalls, fertile soil, apple orchards and more. It us respectfully and moved on. The houses built in the custody of Huseynali Khan from Cuba. is easy to praise Cuba both historically and to­ along the edges of neat, asphalt roads are not The Cuba Khanate that developed during the day. As in the past, guests visiting Azerbaijan alike. They are not remainders of Soviet archi­ years of power of Huseynali Khan (1722-1758) travel to Cuba first because it is close to Baku. tecture, but individual projects. Their common and his son Fatali Khan (1758-1789) covered Our republic's colorful ethnographic map is di­ indicator is the "Davudun mohum" (Davud's northeastern Azerbaijan and southern Dagest­ rectly related to the population of this district. stamp). This "stamp" is the main decoration on an, the territories from Derbent to Lankaran. The Lezgis, Tats, Khinalig people, Budugs, and all buildings, from the most luxurious palaces The resulting establishment of the multina­ tional Jewish village near Cuba during that Griz have lived in friendship and peace with the to the poorest-looking houses. Over centuries, time was of no coincidence. Azerbaijani Turks. One very important feature peaceful, clever, and hardworking people lived Let's consider this historical occurrence here with strict but fair Jewish rules. These rules that makes Cuba famous is Girmizi Gesebe (Red comprehensively. The steps taken by Husey­ have been passed from fathers to their sons, Village), where Mountain Jews are settled, and nali Khan were received in different ways. from generation to generation. Respect for learn­ lies in the territory of the region. The village was There's no doubt that various problems were ing, scientists, parents and teachers, strict family the only administrative unit in the former Soviet created in terms of national, religious discrimi­ territory where Jews lived very close together. discipline, mutual respect, goodwill, and con­ nation. However, this was a stage of the fight nection to those who passed away, to their roots, for Azerbaijan. Huseynali Khan's policy to and loyalty to religion have all played an impor­ join bigger territories - all khanates - under an tant role in the education of each Jewish family. Azerbaijani government was launched inter­ nally, with national minorities. The relocation According to the majority of scientists. Moun­ of Jews near Guba city, the capital of the khan­ tain Jews are the successors of Jews deported from ate, was one of the first steps of this policy. Israel to Iran. They acquired the local language, In 1722 a territory was allocated for Moim­ but were then forced to move to the Caucasus. tain Jews on the left, western bank of Guby- They faced persecution by fire worshippers, and alchay. That year, they began to settle there. centuries later by Muslims. Some researchers Guba city was situated on the other, taller, east­ different places conditioned the village's indus­ think that Moimtain Jews are in fact Tats of Ira­ ern bank of the river. Despite different socio­ try. For example, Jews who migrated from the nian origin, and adopted Judaism in the 8-lOth political changes. Mountain Jews still live in the mountainous regions were engaged in various century during the Caspian Khaganate. Moun­ territory "identified" by Huseynali Khan, and agricultural fields; those who moved from Iran tain Jews relate their connection to the Caucasus try not to add disorder to history. Mass settle­ were engaged in trade. Interestingly, despite the 2,500 years before. In the beginning, Jews were ment in the Jewish village began in 1731. Af­ fact that they tied relations across the differing settled in the mountains. Historians explain this ter the death of Huseynali Khan in 1758, Guba population of these neighborhoods, even with settlement in relation to their need to always khanate was managed by his son, Fatali Khan. other nations, it is still clear who is from which defend themselves for various reasons. Jewish He continued the political line of his father, paid part. Everyone is well aware of the reason for people once lived several kilometers away from attention to the development of the Jewish vil­ moving here and the legend of their neighbor­ Girmizi Gesebe, in a territory called Kulgat on lage and the lives of its population, and helped hood. The registration history of Mountain Jews Girmizi Gesebe is a real phenomenon in the eth­ the left bank of the Gudyalchay river. Kulgat and supported them. The Khan highly valued in the Caucasus in the 19"’ century covers the no-political landscape of the modem world. was ruined during the attacks of Nadir Shah, but the loyalty, wisdom and hard work of Jews, and late 19"’ century. Thus, in 1881,21,138 Jews of the created conditions for them to engage in agricul­ The Jewish people are a nation whose name the presence of grave stones indicates that Jews Caucasus are registered in 34 settlements. ture, gardening, trade, and craftsmanship. The is often mentioned alongside the socio-polit­ However, Muslims and Jews living along the favorable living conditions created in Guba re­ ical, scientific, cultural, and economic devel­ banks of Gudyalchay lived somewhat in isola­ sulted in an influx of Jews from nearby Gusar, opment of the world. They endured bloody tion. The first wooden bridge connecting the two Chipkend, Karchakh, Suduh and Griz villages, shores was built in 1851, and the stone bridge wars, genocides and exiles, and amazed the and even from Baku, Iran, Turkey, and other was built in 1910. This was not by chance. Dur­ world with their progression. They are proud places. Even this flow was not able to disturb in­ ing the feudal fragmentation of national and of their scientists, writers, artists, painters, ternal divisions of the village. Village residents religious discrimination, Husseynali Khan con­ architects, musicians, and inventions that never forget "who is who" here. changed the course of history. sidered the problems and decided to place the The Jews who have moved in from various Jews in an isolated area. The Muslim population, ...The village received the representatives places lived in nine quarters of the village. As it then, had enough time to observe the displaced of the "Azerbaijani Carpets" magazine on was noted, those who came from Kulgat village persons, their lifestyles, perspectives and religion, one of the hottest days of summer. Its name were the earliest settlers. Following them, Gusar from the outside - from the other bank of Gudy­ "Girmizi Gesebe" (Red Village) written in Jews turned to Guba. The migration from Gilan alchay - and to be able to differentiate friend from big red letters was noticeable from far away. to the village occurred in the 1780s. The Gileki foe when necessary. The biggest test was time, but Red roofed houses, red flowers, red flags... quarter where they settled is located right in the the people on both banks managed to emerge clean Not surprisingly, the color red is one of the center of Girmizi Gesebe (Red Village). Those and dignified. specific characteristics of the village. There's who settled from Baku and Guba live in the Miz­ In recent centuries, along with the Mountain some similarity between this village and rahi ("eastern") quarter. Their relocation from Jews, other ethno linguistic groups - Ashkena- 58 59 zi, Knmcagklar, Kurdish Our conversation with Boris Jews, and Georgian Jews Yusifovich Simanduyev, presi­ - have lived in Azerbai­ dent of the religious community jan. However, as of the of the village, and Yavushva Do- 19th century. Mountain novich Simanduyev who is the Jews composed the vast principal of the Mountain Jew's majority of the Jewish School No. 1 that was named af­ population. Historical ter Isaac Khanukov, took place in sources give information this temple. The elderly religious on the Mountain Jews' figure greeted us kindly. He invi­ settlements at the end ted us in saying, "Welcome to the of the 19th century in house of God!" The various reli­ Vartashenda (now Oguz) gious writings, prayers written in and Muji. For example, the Hebrew and Latin alphabets, it is noted that the ma­ and pictures reflecting the history jority of the population of the synagogue during different in Vartashen in 1864 was periods that hung on the corridor Jewish, and three houses wall were captivating. of worship were in opera­ Yavushva Simanduyev: "The tion. The flow of Jewish first place the guests of this village go necessary to write it down, but those of the younger Ashkenazis into Azerbai­ to is the synagogue, and the first person is Boris Yu­ generation always stop in front of this prayer when jani territory began in the sifovich. He is a living encyclopedia. He loves his pe­ they enter the synagogue. It's of great importance for It wasn't difficult to find somebody here to early 19* century, following the invasion of the ople and his nation. He majored in engineering. It’s us that they start worshiping with this prayer. When have an interesting conversation with. Heeding Russian Empire. At the time, the dynamic de­ the third time that our people have considered him the time comes, they will teach their children this pra­ velopment of the oil industry in Baku began to the locals' advice - "Ask the Simanduyevs abo­ worthy of this prestigious duty. Be it the history of yer, too. It's our wish for us, our family, children, and attract many nations from around the world, ut Qirmizi Gesebe!" - we turned to the Altigun- the Mountain Jews that settled in Azerbaijan, or the future generations to address beautiful prayers to our including Jewish people.