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Kavkazi "Mountain Jews":
Ancient Hebrew and Persian roots at the border of Azerbaijan and Russia
Sunday, September 6
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
About this talk
The Jewish community of the Caucasus, located between the Black and Caspian Seas, is commonly known as the Kavkazi or Mountain Jews, though they traditionally identify themselves as Juhuro, meaning "Jews" in their ancestral language, Juhuri, a Judeo-Persian dialect. Historically, these communities lived mainly in present-day Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus republics of Dagestan, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachay-Cherkessia.
Their roots trace back to the Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE, followed by the incorporation of Jewish populations into the Persian Empire. Over time, some migrated north into the Caucasus Mountains, where they established enduring settlements while remaining under Persian cultural influence for centuries. In the 19th century, the Treaties of Gulistan and Turkmenchay brought the region under Tsarist Russian rule, and it later became part of the Soviet Union.
This talk explores the origins, history, and enduring cultural legacy of the Kavkazi Jews, highlighting contemporary diaspora efforts to preserve their unique heritage and identity.
About Valeriya
Valeriya Nakshun was born in the Republic of Dagestan, a constituent
republic of Russia, and immigrated to the United States with her family as a
refugee in the late 1990s. She is a Kavkazi Jewish culture writer, community
organizer, artist, and storyteller based between Washington D.C. and Baltimore.
Valeriya served as a Community Outreach Fellow at Sephardic Heritage
International DC (SHIN-DC) and is a former dancer with the Silk Road Dance
Company (SRDC).
RECORDING INFORMATION
This talk will be recorded and shared with registrants the day after.
It will be available for 3 days, and 7 days for members.
Click here to register
You will be asked to select one of these options:
General admission - $18
Supported admission - $9
Sponsor this talk - $36
With your contribution, you will also be donating to the American Sephardi Federation, which preserves and promotes the history, traditions, and rich mosaic culture of Greater Sephardic communities as an integral part of the Jewish experience.
