|
World Jewish News
Conference on History and Traditions of Mountain Jews Held in Dagestan
01.04.2009
A conference devoted to the history and traditions of Mountain Jews took place on March 29-30 in the town of Derbent, which is a place of compact residence of Jews in Dagestan. The conference was attended by scholars and literary critics from various regions of Russia.
The scientific conference "History, Historiography and Ethnography of Mountain Jews" was prepared by the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography, the local administration of Derbent, Dagestan department of UNESCO in Derbent with the support of the Jewish charity fund "Derbent-imid." Scholars and linguists discussed the history and ethnography of Mountain Jews, who are one of the titular nationalities of Dagestan, as well as their role in the history of the republic and the city of Derbent.
As previously reported by the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot," the Head of the Office on Makhachkala Jewish community Martha Alekyan said that as of May 2008, Dagestan was home to about 7 thousand Jews, of which in Makhachkala - about 2 thousand, and in Derbent - about 3.5 thousand.
"The outflow of Jews from the republic is not as huge as it used to be," said Martha Alekyan. "Young people have found jobs, and the elderly do not want to leave this place."
According to Alekyan, the Jewish community is constantly conducting joint events and roundtables with other religious communities. Chairman of the Jewish community in Makhachkala Shimmi Dibiyaev was invited as an adviser to the Public Council at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan.
"After the article 'A Reply to Zionists,' published in 2005 in the newspaper 'The People's View,' several attempts have been made in Dagestanian media to publish articles with statements against the Jewish ethnic group, but they all
received refutations," said Martha Alekyan. According to Alekyan, the public of Dagestan opposed these publications, and since then there have been no articles in the national media aimed at inciting hatred between Jews and other peoples of Dagestan.
Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Relations, Public Affairs and Religious Organizations of People's Assembly of Dagestan Kamil Davdiev also expressed his views on the attitude to the Jewish ethnic group in Dagestan to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
"In March 2008, at the session of the National Assembly, the deputies approved the Law 'On the development of the program of ethnic relations in the Republic of Dagestan' for the years 2008-2010," said Kamil Davdiev. "The program addresses the need for additional measures in the field of conservation and development of national cultures, the maintenance of peace and ethnic harmony."
According to Davdiev, a tolerant mentality has formed in Dagestan, and the issue of aggravation of interethnic relations is irrelevant here: "Representatives of the Jewish people actively participate in social and political life of the Republic. In particular, the position of Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Taxes of the People's Assembly is occupied by Pinhasov Sergei Gavrilovich - a Jew by nationality, one of the most skilled professionals in the office of the Parliament."
Timur Isaev
|
|
