The Mountain Jews, or Juhuro, are an ancient, distinct Jewish community residing along the rugged slopes and valleys of the Caucasus region, particularly in Azerbaijan. Tracing their roots back to ancient Persia and the Babylonian exile, they developed a unique cultural identity, speaking Judeo-Tat—an ancient Southwest Iranian language heavily influenced by Hebrew and Aramaic. Throughout centuries of history, they maintained a resilient religious tradition, faithfully observing Shabbat, honoring sacred life-cycle rituals, and preserving custom-built synagogues, while living side-by-side with neighboring Muslim, Christian Udi, and Caucasian communities. This harmonious coexistence shaped a vibrant heritage reflected in their architecture, unique sacred art, and distinct culinary traditions, most famously encapsulated in historic strongholds like Oguz and the all-Jewish settlement of Krasnaya Sloboda in Quba. In the late 20th century, following the fall of the Soviet Union, large waves of the community made Aliyah to Israel, preserving their rich Caucasian traditions within a thriving Israeli-diaspora network. 

 

Mon, June 28:   Arrive in Baku.

                           Late afternoon orientation followed by a specially prepared dinner.                                  BAKU 

 

 Tue, June 29:    Travel to Shamakhi. Historically, Shamakhi was one of the oldest trading centers

                           in Eastern Caucasus as well as the economic and administrative capital of Shirvan,

                           making it one of the key towns on the Silk Road.

                           Visit the Juma mosque in Shamakhi.

                           Lunch in Shamakhi in a vegetarian restaurant or a specially prepared meal.

                           We will drive to a photogenic place - Lahij village, famous all over the region for its

                           copper craftsmen. We will have a chance to explore this wonderful place and reward

                           yourself with amazing photos.

                           You will visit craftsmen shops, a local museum, two of the 18th-century Mosques and

                           an 18th-century hammam (bathhouse).

                           Transfer to Gabala.

                           Specially prepared dinner at a restaurant in Gabala. Transfer to hotel.                             GABALA                                

​Wed, June 30:  Lecture: Who are the Mountain Jews? History and Heritage throughout the Ages, S. Sabar

                           Tour Gabala with visiting the “Nokhur” Lake and the Tufandag Mountain resort.

                           Lunch in Nij village.

                           Located just over 20 kilometers South-West of Gabala, the village of Nij is home to

                           the largest population of Udi people anywhere in the world.  

                           Udis are a Christian people directly descended from one of the main tribes living in

                           Caucasian Albania, an ancient state existing across much of today’s Azerbaijan from

                           about 3 century BCE to 8 century CE. In fact, they still speak an endangered language

                           that is essentially the same as that of the ancient Albanians.

                           Explore the history and culture of this warm community by visiting the beautifully restored

                           17th-century Albanian church (Chotari Church) which sits shaded by magnificent plane

                           trees not far from the village center.

                           Drive to the Oguz Khal-Khal waterfall.

                           We will visit Oguz city with the historic center where Jewish and Muslim families lived side

                           by side for centuries. The city retains traditional Jewish houses (often designed with

                           Jerusalem as their façade), Jewish cemeteries, and two synagogues: the Lower (built

                           in 1849) and the Upper (1897).        

                           Drive to Sheki. Dinner.                                                                                                           SHEKI

​

 Thu, July 1:       Lecture: Sanctuaries of the Caucasus: Sacred Art and Synagogues of the Mountain

                           Jews, S. Sabar

                           Tour Sheki, one of the most ancient cities of Azerbaijan, located on the picturesque

                           slopes of the Great Caucasus.

                           Visit the Palace of Sheki Khans, a beautiful wooden building with a playful touch of

                           ornaments (Shebeke). It served at its time as a summer residence for Sheki rulers. The

                           composition of the palace has still reserved its original form as two centuries ago, and

                           today the palace shine attracts many tourists. As it is known, being in a close relation with         

                           architecture, ornament art is mostly monumental. At the same time ornament is a special     

                           technique of decorative art, as well as one of the hardest kinds of art, that requires

                           extensive experience and specific technologies. The uniqueness of the local ornament,

                           used as an element of national architecture, is that it does not use studs and gluing. For

                           example, frames made of planks and decorated with colored glass, are used instead of

                           doors and windows, and this gives a unique spirit to the ancient structures.

                           Visit a woodcarving (Shebeke) workshop.

                           Lunch in Sheki Karavan restaurant.

                           We will also visit the Albanian church in Kish village (V-VI centuries).

                           Transfer to Baku.  No dinner included this evening.                                                          BAKU

 

​Fri, July 2:         Lecture: From Cradle to Canopy: Rituals and Life Cycle Events of the Mountain

                          Jews, S. Sabar

                          We will explore central Baku and tour some of its major attractions.

                          Visit Highland Park, where you will see the Turkish Mosque, Hazi Aslanov Monument,

                          Eternal Fire Monument.

                          After that, we will walk in Naberezhnye Park and along Baku Boulevard, the second

                          largest in Europe. View little Venice Baku. Visit the new Carpet Museum (there will be

                          workshops on making carpet).

                          Lunch break on Nizami Street (NOT included).

                          Visit the Heydar Aliyev Center, a world renowned architectural masterpiece.

                          Also visit a monument to Albert Agarunov, the Jewish National Hero ofAzerbaijan, which

                          is located in the Narimanov District of Baku.

                          Shabbat services followed by a kosher Shabbat dinner.                                                    BAKU

 

​Sat, July 3:       Shabbat services followed by a kosher Shabbat lunch.

                          An afternoon walking tour across the historical Old Town - 'Icheri Sheher'.

                          See the highlights of Icheri Sheher including the Palace of the Shirvans dating to the middle

                          of the 15th century; Maiden's Tower, which is according to the latest research, the largest       

                          Zoroastrian temple in the world.

                          Visit Juma Mosque, antiques and carpets shops.

                          We will visit the Market “Yasil Bazar” & Eastern Gold Bazar in Baku.                               BAKU

                                                                                                                                     

Sun, July 4:      Travel to Quba (Guba) to visit places of interest such as Juma Mosque (19th century),

                          Sakina Khanum Mosque (19th century), the local bazaar, and of course, a carpet-weaving     

                          workshop. You will have the opportunity to see how carpets, the copies of which are kept in

                          the best museums in the world, are woven.

                          Visit the Mountain Jews Museum in the village. Lunch in Guba.

                          We will also visit Krasnaya Sloboda, Azerbaijan's mountain Jews’ settlement. Over the years,

                          they have clung to the broad outlines of their religion. They borrowed customs from their

                          amiable Muslim neighbors but never assimilated. Even as their knowledge of the rituals

                          seeped away, they adhered to the broad outlines of Judaism, faithfully attending Shabbat

                          prayers, scrubbing their homes on Fridays and baking their own matzo on Passover.

                          We will visit a synagogue and the new Jewish Museum in the village “Krasnaya Sloboda.”                                                                                                                                                                                           BAKU            

Mon, July 5:      Drive to Gobustan, one of the earliest cradles of life on Earth.

                           In 2007 Gobustan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

                           Gobustan occupies the south-eastern spur of the Great Caucasian Range and is situated

                           60 km south of Baku. It is a monticellite semi-desert area dissected by numerous gullies

                           and ravines, and Gobustan, in translation, means "ravine land". Caves and rock

                           outcroppings surround the region.  

                           Settled since the Stone Age, the area is one of the major and most ancient museums of rock     

                           engravings (petroglyphs) in the world.

                           We will visit Mud volcanoes.

                           Lunch. We will drive to Yanar Dag, a natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside

                           on the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which

                           itself is known as the "land of fire." Drive to Ateshgah to see the Ancient Zoroastrian

                           Temple Ateshgah – "Fire Temple" located 30 km from the center of Baku in the suburb of

                           Surakhany. This territory is known for such unique natural phenomena as burning natural

                           gas outlets (underground gas coming onto the surface contacts oxygen and lights up).

                           The temple in its present state was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries.

                           Travel back to Baku.

                           Gala Dinner in the national Shirvanshakh museum restaurant Baku with a folk show.                                                                                                                                                                                               BAKU

​Tue, July 6:        Transfer to the airport for departure.

 

                                                                        Subject to change

​

​Lecturers:      Prof. Shalom Sabar (Emeritus), Dept. of Art History/Dept of Folklore and Folk Culture, The Hebrew  
                      University of Jerusalem.

​                      Jacob Shoshan, Lecturer and tour guide

​​

Price for land arrangements only: USD 3995 per person in a double room

***EARLY REGISTRATION until October 23, 2026: USD 3945 per person in a double room***     
                                                                                                

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): USD 845
 

Price is based on minimum participants​

​

Deposit: USD 950 with registration, of which USD 600 is non-refundable.
 

Remainder of payment is to be paid by April 14, 2027. Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.                                                        
            
Cancellation fees:                                                                                            
Mar 17 – Apr 26, 2027….…….....................25%                                              

Apr 27-May 27, 2027 ……..………..…..…..50%                                             

May 28, 2027 - Departure..…….…….......100%                                          

 

Trip includes:                                                                                                                                                                          

• Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar and Jacob Shoshan               

• Local English-speaking tour guide                        

• 8 nights accommodation in 4 and 5-star hotels with daily buffet breakfasts, kosher Shabbat dinner and lunch and specially prepared meals according to the itinerary.

• Local transport by tourist bus and vans

• Entrance fees according to itinerary     

                
Not included in the price:                                      

• Obligatory health and cancellation travel insurance 

• Visa fees if required

• Tips USD 100  

                                                                         
Program subject to change:  All rights are reserved by Jewish Historical Seminars to make staff substitutions if necessary and/or make changes to the program and conditions as required by force majeure, including cancellation of the trip at any time due to drastic changes in the situation. Participants are reminded that weather conditions cannot be predicted and cancellations or changes to visits may be unavoidable.

Further information: Contact Debbie:   Tel: 972.2.534.5191, Cell: +972.54.2212503    Fax: 972.2.5700005
                                                                  Email: JHSeminars@gmail.com.   www.JewishHistoricalSeminars.com
                                                                  The trip is run in conjunction with Ayala Travel and Tours, Jerusalem