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Jewish sites in Oguz

The history of the Jews in Azerbaijan dates back many centuries. Today, Jews in Azerbaijan mainly consist of three distinct groups: Mountain Jews, the most sizable and most ancient group; Ashkenazi Jews, who settled in the area during the late 19th-early 20th centuries, and during World War II; and Georgian Jews who settled mainly in Baku during the early part of the 20th century. Oguz in north-west Azerbaijan was historically one of the main Jewish settlements in the country whose Jewish population peaked in 1930-1933 at 2,000-2,500 residents. A unique community formed here of Jews and Muslims living together harmoniously, sharing holidays and traditions. While many left following the fall of the USSR, still some members of this community remain, with several Jewish-style houses (featuring Jewish ornaments and often facing towards Jerusalem) and two synagogues and cemeteries offering a window into the town’s Jewish past. The synagogues are named simply the Upper and the Lower due to their location in the town. The Lower Synagogue was built in 1849 and was the first synagogue in Oghuz, while the Upper Synagogue was built in 1897 and, completely restored in 2006, is visited every Friday and Saturday by Oghuz’s remaining Jewish population for prayers.