These days, the Jewish society in Armenia is approximately less than 100 group

People Background

The Jewish society of Armenia dates back very nearly 2,000 years. Lots of historians date the arrival with the earliest Jewish settlement in Armenia to the devastation with the First Temple. Through the conquest of master Tigranes II the fantastic, Tigranes put with your 10,000 Jewish captives to Armenia as he retreated from Palestine, because of the Roman assault on Armenia (69 B.C.E.). By 360-370 C.E., there was clearly a massive increase in Jewish Hellenistic immigration into Armenia; numerous Armenian cities became predominately Jewish. During this period, however, the Persian Shapur II started deporting thousands of Jews to Iran.

Halakhic research never prospered in Armenia, even though there are some sources into the part in Jewish Hellenistic options. During Medieval days, nearly all of Armenian Jewry vanished as a definite entity in the region, although some historians think they became an integral part of the Kurdish Jewry. There’s an ancient Jewish cemetery located in the area for Vayots Dzor, in the town of Eghegis, south and to the west of Yerevan. There are other than 40 tombstones dating back to into 13th century, 16 tombstones with Hebrew and Aramaic inscriptions.

Jews from Poland and Persia 1st began showing up in Armenia in early nineteenth century. Since 1840, Jewish settlers founded both Ashkenazic and Sephardic forums in Yerevan. To 1924, the Sephardic synagogue, Shiek Mordechai, ended up being a prominent establishment one of the Jewish society.

After and during The Second World War, a huge selection of displaced Jews relocated to Soviet Armenia. The Jewish society of Armenia became to approximately 5,000 someone. In 1959, the Jewish inhabitants peaked in Soviet Armenia at more or less 10,000 people. Another revolution of Jewish immigrants arrived in the country between 1965 and 1972, mostly intelligentsia, military, and designers. These Jews emerged from Russia and Ukraine, interested in the greater liberal culture. Now, the Jewish community have less than 1,000 residents due to emigration and absorption. Between 1992 and 1994, above 6,000 Jews immigrated to Israel caused by Armenia’s political separation and economic depression. In 1995, the Chabad Household got established in Yerevan. The Chabad House produces no-cost meals, offers sessions in Hebrew and Jewish practices, and cares for all the people elderly.

The speed of intermarriage among Jews and Christian Armenians is really higher. In an interview, Rabbi Berstein from the Yerevan Chabad outlined the Jewish community as “‘too lightweight’ to-be of good interest to the majority of Jewish companies.” Almost half the Jewish population lives in Yerevan. Seven, Yerevan and Vanadzor have actually effective Jewish community stores.

At the start of 2002, Rimma Varzhapetian turned the chairman on the Jewish area of Armenia. The only rabbi in Armenia is Rabbi Gershom Meir Berstein in the Chabad in Yerevan. In 2004, the Jewish neighborhood, through the support of Chabad, began making kosher foods. Slowly, the Jewish society are rebuilding it self in Armenia.

People Organizations

The United states Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is quite energetic in Armenia aiding seniors, through foundation Orot Hesed. The JDC operates through Yerevan synagogue to grant finances for products tools, fuel, and drug. This product helps nearly 80 individuals.

The Jewish people of Armenia (JCA) in Yerevan in addition sponsors programs for Jews. In belated 2002, the JCA published the community’s basic newsletter.

The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) preserves a Sunday school, a Hesed elderly heart, a number of young people clubs and public activities in Armenia. The Religious Society of Armenia furthermore supports a second Sunday school and a summer camp, both based out of Yerevan. Menorah, the Armenia-Israel traditions party, conducts numerous strategies in the community. Current Hebrew has become coached on condition university since 1995.

In 1992, the Jewish spiritual Community of Armenia ended up being created in Yerevan. This Chabad organization preserves a rabbi, the next Sunday school in Armenia and a residential district heart for products and gatherings. In addition supporting a summer camp and charity software. You can find once a week Shabbat services and holiday solutions held at the Yerevan synagogue. Since 1997, the Jewish Oxnard chicas escort spiritual area has actually published the publication, Koelet, in order to keep the city updated.

There’s also a little Jewish community in Sevan that periodically holds solutions led from the head rabbi of Yerevan Synagogue.

Anti-Semitism

Usually, Jews and Armenian Christians have experienced great connections. Both groups have actually ancient social and spiritual origins in Armenia which have aided them through modern-day persecutions. None the less, Jews are considered aliens in Armenia and never full citizens.

Anti-Semitism really does exist in Armenia, even though it does not occur generally. As an instance, in March 2002, Romen Yepiskoposyan printed an anti-Semitic publication. Also the news and local authorities started a boycott on the Holocaust memorial.

For the reason that Armenia and Turkey’s posses bad connection in the long run, the majority of the anti-Semitism in Armenia stems from the good affairs between poultry and Israel in addition to U . S ..

Area Connections

The Armenian Jewish society has close relations through its authorities. Armenian Jewry may worship and practice Jewish traditions easily due to the 1991 Armenian legislation on versatility of Conscience, revised in 1997, of separation of chapel and state. In 1996, the state registration department called for every public business to join up with the county. The Jewish spiritual Community of Armenia is actually registered utilizing the Committee on Nationalities.

In 1999, the JCA rooted trees in Yerevan in commemoration regarding the Holocaust while the Armenian Genocide Memorial.

A state-sponsored station broadcasts a regular television show showcasing Jewish and Israeli lifestyle. The Armenian authorities is cooperating making use of the Jewish neighborhood to access Torah scrolls confiscated previously and positioned in county choices.