Semen Ikhiilov

The Israeli media report that the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, will be the main sponsor of the Mountain Jews' new synagogue in Baku. Could you confirm this?

To be honest, I don’t know. I think the issue has been entrusted to SOCAR. I have spoken to the company president about this. He generally confirmed the information but did not reveal any details.

Has a site been found for the new synagogue?

Yes, the site has already been chosen and even fenced off.

Will the new synagogue be far from the old one?

Not too far. On the corner of Topchubashov Street and Fizuli Street.

How did the members of the community and Jews internationally react to reports of the imminent demolition of the old synagogue as part of the creation of the Winter Garden?

There are no problems here. We're not talking about a new synagogue, but the old one that was on Shamsi Badalbayli Street. This is an old, single-storied synagogue and under the plans of the city executive authorities, it is to be demolished.

Are you satisfied with the design for the new synagogue?

You know… it has a square outline. Everything has to take account of the square shape. It is not so easy. At the same time, we should not forget that the construction will be conducted by decree of His Excellency, the president of Azerbaijan.

You once expressed the wish that the Mountain Jewish community could have its historic synagogue returned, that is, the building that is now the Rashid Behbutov Theatre.

Yes, but mine was a lone voice which was not heard by many people, especially by senior officials who could have responded. There was some reaction, you know, but it had hardly anything to do with the case.

A site has been allocated for a new synagogue which will be compensation for the old one. The design is for a wonderful synagogue; it has a hall and some other features that were not present in the old one.

I know that the historical building will not be returned to us, however much I ask. I am already tired. What's most important is that construction of the new synagogue should begin, that we should be able to see that the new synagogue is being built and that we will soon move into it.

When will we be able to congratulate you on completion of the building?

I hope construction will start soon. Today the beginning of the work is a little delayed, but we understand this. It is probably because there are very serious, important facilities which take priority. I think the start of construction is a matter of two or three months. I would like to thank Mr President for allocating a place for us, for helping us to buy up all the flats that were on that territory.

(The Mountain Jews claim descent from the Ten Lost Tribes of the Bible, or from members of the tribe of Judah, exiled after the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Other Jewish scholars believe that they have a connection to the Persian and Bukharan Jews, and became an independent community around the 6th century CE.)

Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az