The Mountain Jewish (Tat) people believe themselves to be descended from Jewish taken during the Assyrian captivity and displaced to the cities of the Medes, who spoke a dialect of Old Persian. The Tat language is based on Persian, just like Iran's Farsi language. Interestingly enough, the Tat language is spoken today by Muslim and even Christian peoples, as well as Jewish ones.
Formerly many Tat speaking Jewish lived in the Caucasus Mountains of the former Soviet Union (FSU). Today most of these people, also known as Mountain Jews, have left the FSU. Many are still scattered in southern Russia's mountainous Dagestan region and neighboring Azerbaijan. Yet one fourth of them live in Brooklyn, New York, and about half now live in Israel.
Because of their unique history and culture, Jewish people have a strong sense of identity.
While some of them work as peddlers, shoemakers, or barbers, many have become factory laborers or workers on farms. Recently, large numbers of Jewish people have left Uzbekistan due to economic hardship and fear of a nationalistic trend in the government. The women are particularly known for their dancing at both Jewish and Muslim weddings.
They follow the Law of Moses, observing strict dietary laws, circumcising all male children, and observing the Sabbath. They also celebrate Jewish festivals like Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Passover.
Many of the Mountain Jewish people have intermarried with the Muslim community. Because they are open to others outside the Jewish community, perhaps they will be open to the gospel. As it stands, they have few if any chances to hear of his grace, mercy and salvation.
Pray that Christian materials will be translated accurately and distributed widely to Jewish Tat speakers.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among the many Jewish Tats who view their "Jewishness" as an ethnic identity but with no religious belief.
Pray that Mountain Jewish people will understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.
Scripture Prayers for the Jewish Tat, Mountain Jewish in Azerbaijan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukharan_Jews
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Jews
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Jewish Tat, Mountain Jewish |
People Name in Country | Jewish Tat, Mountain Jewish |
Natural Name | Mountain Jewish |
Pronunciation |
MOUN-ten joo
|
Alternate Names | Bik; Caucasian Mountain Jew; Jewish; Judeo-Tatic; Juhuri; Mountain Jews; Tat |
Population this Country | 15,000 |
Population all Countries | 105,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 10839 |
ROP3 Code | 116827 |
ROP25 Code | 303368 |
ROP25 Name | Jewish |
Country | Azerbaijan | ||
Region | Asia, Central | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Quba district: Baku and Krasnaya Sloboda village; Oguz district: Vartashen village. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Azerbaijan |
Region | Asia, Central |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Quba district: Baku and Krasnaya Sloboda village; Oguz district: Vartashen village.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions (Judaism) |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
80.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
20.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Judeo-Tat (15,000 speakers) |
Language Code | jdt Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Judeo-Tat (15,000 speakers) |
Language Code | jdt Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Judeo-Tat |
Primary Language: Judeo-Tat
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2011) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Judeo-Tat | Jesus Film Project |
General | Scripture Earth Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Adam Jones - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |