Baku: Jews living in various countries around the world are celebrating the arrival of the year 5787 according to the Jewish calendar – Rosh Hashanah, APA’s northern bureau reports. Rosh Hashanah, in addition to marking the Jewish New Year, is considered a period of spiritual reflection, looking back on the past and doing good deeds.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Pisakh Isakov, chairman of the Religious Community of Mountain Jews of the Red Settlement, stated that this period of spiritual renewal, which begins on the first day of the month of Tishrei, lasts for 10 days. During this time, individuals reflect on their past year, acknowledge mistakes, and seek forgiveness. The period concludes with the Yom Kippur holiday.
Isakov expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan’s leadership for the conditions created for religious communities, noting the freedom Jews have to practice their customs. He highlighted President Ilham Aliyev’s annual congratulations and appreciation of the Jewish community’s contributions to the country’s development. Isakov conveyed his gratitude on behalf of all Mountain Jews to the head of state.
Yavushva Simanduyev, chairman of the Council of Elders of the Red Settlement, spoke about the enduring environment of tolerance in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that while Jews have faced persecution in other countries, Azerbaijan has fostered mutual respect and harmony among different religious groups. Simanduyev recalled that even during the Soviet era, when other religious institutions were closed, synagogues in Guba remained open, allowing Jews and Azerbaijanis to coexist peacefully.