Mountain Jewish in Azerbaijan


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

Introduction

The Jews in Azerbaijan believe they are descended from Jews taken captive by the Assyrians and displaced to the cities of the Medes. They spoke a dialect of Old Persian upon which the Azerbaijani Jewish Tat language is based. Because of their unique history and culture, the Jews of Azerbaijan have a strong sense of identity. Although they have much in common with other Jews around the world, they have a very distinctive lifestyle. Many of these Jews are Ashkenazim, descendants of Jews who inhabited the Germanic regions of Europe. After World War II, they lived in the Caucasus Mountains of the Soviet Union. Today, they are known as the “Mountain Jews,” scattered in the mountains of Azerbaijan. Some continue to follow the Law of Moses while others have intermarried with Muslims.


Ministry Obstacles

Reaching them will require overcoming entrenched religious systems and political and geographical barriers.


Prayer Focus

Pray for the Jews of Azerbaijan to be open to hearing about their Messiah.
Pray for laborers, anointed by the Holy Spirit, who will invest themselves in reaching this precious people group.
Their location presents a challenge. Scripture resources are available in their languages. Pray for radio and television outreach.
Pray for workers willing to take these resources to the mountain villages. Pray they would see much fruit.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish Tat, Mountain Jewish in Azerbaijan.


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-ish
Alternate Names Bik; Caucasian Mountain Jew; Jewish; Judeo-Tatic; Juhuri; Mountain Jews; Tat
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 106,000
Total Countries 5
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.