Jewish Heritage Cultural Routes in Georgia – Abkhazia

Introduction

Abkhazia is located in the North-West of Georgia and has a status of an autonomous republic today. The history of the Jews in Abkhazia dates back to the early 19th century. The majority of Jews inhabiting the place were Ashkenazi and Georgian. Today, Georgians cannot visit Abkhazia; therefore, Georgian Jews cannot pray in Sokhumi Synagogue, which is the only one in this region.

The majority of Jews inhabiting the place were Ashkenazi and Georgian.

Most Jews either left or were evacuated from Abkhazia after the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict in 1992-1993. Sokhumi has always been the most inhabited city by Jews city in Abkhazia, even during Soviet times when the population of Jews increased greatly in the whole Abkhazia. In the 1980s, once the Soviet Union was disintegrating, ethnic tension started to grow, and the population of Jews in Abkhazia increased as well. This number did not drop even during Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in August, 1992. Jews, who wanted to flee the place were evacuated and moved to Israel; the ones who stayed were mainly Ashkenazi. As of 2009, there were 15 Jews in Abkhazia, most of which were Ashkenazi. Majority of Jews were elderly, their average age being 72 in 2004. Today Georgians cannot visit Abkhazia; therefore, Georgian Jews cannot pray in Sokhumi Synagogue, which is the only one in this region.

Abkhazia Synagogue

1024px-Sukhumi_Synagogue

A synagogue in Abkhazia was built in the first decade of the 20th century. As of 2009, there were about 150 Jews in Abkhazia, nearly all of them Ashkenazi. The majority of them were elderly, with the average age being 72. The community maintains a synagogue in Sukhumi. The material which was used for the construction of the synagogue, both the interior and the exterior are decorated with paintings.

Explore the cities on this route

Nesi Kupreishvili

Nesi Kupreishvili

Nesi Kupreishvili is the Project Manager at the Israeli House NET, aiming to use public diplomacy (Hasbara) to take care of the image of Israel and achieve solidarity; She Graduated Social and Political Sciences at Tbilisi State University and then followed by an MBA degree. Formerly a Delegate and a Head of President Administration at Tbilisi State University Self-Government. Since, her career has been focused on effectively managing various projects in construction and development, as well as dealing with investments and sales in hospitality and tourism industries at one of the leading organizations in Georgia.
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