Mountain Jewish in Azerbaijan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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.


References

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
PeopleID3 10839
ROP3 Code 116827
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.


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