These days, the Jewish people in Armenia is roughly below 100 men and women
Society Background
The Jewish area of Armenia goes almost 2,000 years. Most historians date the appearance on the very first Jewish payment in Armenia to the devastation in the very first Temple. While in the conquest of master Tigranes II the best, Tigranes introduced with him 10,000 Jewish captives to Armenia as he retreated from Palestine, due to the Roman fight on Armenia (69 B.C.E.). By 360-370 C.E., there was clearly a massive upsurge in Jewish Hellenistic immigration into Armenia; numerous Armenian areas turned into predominately Jewish. During this time period, however, the Persian Shapur II began deporting a huge number of Jews to Iran.
Halakhic reports never prospered in Armenia, even though there are several records on area in Jewish Hellenistic resources. During Medieval period, a lot of Armenian Jewry vanished as a distinct entity in your community, although some historians think they became an integral part of the Kurdish Jewry. Discover an old Jewish cemetery located in the area for Vayots Dzor, for the town of Eghegis, south and west of Yerevan. There are more than 40 tombstones dating back on 13th century, 16 tombstones with Hebrew and Aramaic inscriptions.
Jews from Poland and Persia very first started showing up in Armenia in early nineteenth century. Since 1840, Jewish settlers set up both Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities in Yerevan. Doing 1924, the Sephardic synagogue, Shiek Mordechai, got a leading establishment one of the Jewish people.
After and during The Second World War, hundreds of displaced Jews moved to Soviet Armenia. The Jewish population of Armenia became to about 5,000 folks. In 1959, the Jewish people peaked in Soviet Armenia at more or less 10,000 people. Another trend of Jewish immigrants arrived in the country between 1965 and 1972, generally intelligentsia, armed forces, and engineers. These Jews appeared from Russia and Ukraine, attracted to more liberal culture. Today, the Jewish society keeps fewer than 1,000 residents because of emigration and assimilation. Between 1992 and 1994, above 6,000 Jews immigrated to Israel as a result of Armenia’s governmental separation and economic depression. In 1995, the Chabad Household is created in Yerevan. The Chabad quarters provides free food, supplies sessions in Hebrew and Jewish customs, and cares for the area elderly.
The interest rate of intermarriage among Jews and Christian Armenians is quite higher. In a job interview, Rabbi Berstein associated with the Yerevan Chabad outlined the Jewish people as “‘too little’ become of good interest to many Jewish businesses.” Virtually half of the Jewish population resides in Yerevan. Seven, Yerevan and Vanadzor have productive Jewish society facilities.
At the start of 2002, Rimma Varzhapetian turned into the chairman of the Jewish society of Armenia. Really the only rabbi in Armenia is Rabbi Gershom Meir Berstein from the Chabad in Yerevan. In 2004, the Jewish neighborhood, through services of Chabad, started creating kosher dishes. Slowly, the Jewish people is reconstructing by itself in Armenia.
People Organizations
The US Jewish Joint circulation panel (JDC) is quite effective in Armenia helping the elderly, through foundation Orot Hesed. The JDC operates through Yerevan synagogue to produce budget for delicacies products, gasoline, and medicine. This system helps nearly 80 anyone.
The Jewish area of Armenia (JCA) in Yerevan in addition sponsors software for Jews. In later part of the 2002, the JCA posted the community’s first publication.
The Jewish agencies for Israel (JAFI) maintains a sunday-school, a Hesed elder middle, several youngsters bars and public tasks in Armenia. The Religious Society of Armenia also tinychat Prijzen helps a moment Sunday school and a summer camp, both located in Yerevan. Menorah, the Armenia-Israel tradition team, performs most recreation in the neighborhood. Todays Hebrew happens to be taught during the state institution since 1995.
In 1992, the Jewish Religious neighborhood of Armenia was established in Yerevan. This Chabad organization maintains a rabbi, the next Sunday school in Armenia and a residential area heart for products and events. Moreover it supports a summer camp and foundation products. You can find weekly Shabbat treatments and trip solutions presented during the Yerevan synagogue. Since 1997, the Jewish spiritual Community has released the newsletter, Koelet, to hold town aware.
There’s also a little Jewish society in Sevan that periodically keeps treatments directed of the mind rabbi in the Yerevan Synagogue.
Anti-Semitism
Usually, Jews and Armenian Christians had great interaction. Both communities posses ancient cultural and religious roots in Armenia having assisted them through contemporary persecutions. However, Jews are considered aliens in Armenia and never full citizens.
Anti-Semitism really does are present in Armenia, even though it cannot occur generally. Including, in February 2002, Romen Yepiskoposyan released an anti-Semitic guide. Furthermore the mass media and local officials started a boycott from the Holocaust memorial.
Due to Armenia and Turkey’s have poor relationship as time passes, much of the anti-Semitism in Armenia stems from the good connections between chicken and Israel together with United States.
Neighborhood Interaction
The Armenian Jewish area enjoys great connections using their authorities. Armenian Jewry may worship and practice Jewish customs freely as a result of 1991 Armenian legislation on Freedom of Conscience, amended in 1997, of separation of chapel and state. In 1996, their state enrollment service necessary every communal organization to register with the condition. The Jewish Religious people of Armenia is actually signed up using Committee on Nationalities.
In 1999, the JCA grown woods in Yerevan in commemoration with the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide Memorial.
A state-sponsored channel broadcasts a weekly tv program highlighting Jewish and Israeli tradition. The Armenian government is cooperating using the Jewish people to access Torah scrolls confiscated previously and placed in county choices.