Azerbaijan sets regional example with digital conservation of Jewish heritage

A major scientific initiative aimed at preserving the historical and cultural legacy of the Jewish community in the Caucasus has commenced in the village of Krasnaya Sloboda, Guba district.

A team of international experts has launched a comprehensive expedition to digitize one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the region, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The project is spearheaded by the Sefer Center for Academic Jewish Studies, in collaboration with the Mountain Jewish religious community and the STMEGI International Charitable Foundation. It brings together 15 specialists from various countries, each contributing expertise in archaeology, epigraphy, cartography, and digital archiving.

Spanning approximately 15 hectares and containing over 3,000 tombstones, the cemetery stands as a testament to the deep-rooted presence of the Mountain Jewish community in Azerbaijan. The initiative includes the development of a precise topographic map, high-resolution photographic documentation, architectural measurement of gravestones, and the meticulous transcription and translation of Hebrew inscriptions. The culmination of the work will be a centralized digital database and an online catalog.

This digital archive will serve not only as a scholarly resource but also as a vital tool for the global Jewish diaspora—particularly the descendants of Guba’s Jewish community—who will gain virtual access to the resting places of their ancestors and valuable genealogical insights.

Beyond its familial and academic significance, the project carries profound cultural weight. It represents a pivotal step in the preservation of Jewish heritage in Azerbaijan and serves as a model for heritage conservation across the broader Caucasus region. 

By Vafa Guliyeva