Independence and Georgia today History of the Jews in Georgia

israel s 60th independence day celebration in tbilisi, georgia attended georgian president mikheil saakashvili

after fall of soviet union, georgia declared independence in 1991. since independence, country faced continuous military conflict, leaving region in political , economic turmoil.

the situation of jewish community of georgia improved dramatically due end of soviet occupation. in 1994, president shevardnadze issued decree protect jewish religious, cultural , historic monuments. in addition, jews of georgia have maintained jewish identity , traditions despite oppression faced under soviets. intermarriage has been low , levels of jewish knowledge higher of other cis republics.

in 1990, rachamim society established, supplies financial , medical support jews of tbilisi , maintains jewish cemeteries , synagogues. functions umbrella organization ashkenazi jews. association of georgian jews (derekh yehudi) focuses on regaining jewish property confiscated during soviet era. jewish community still faces acts of violence , obstacles in return of property rights 19th-century ashkenazi synagogue stolen soviets. chief rabbi of georgia chabad lubavitsch rabbi avraham michaelshvili, has been there since 1990s hosting georgian community , many guests fervor , devotion. there further chief rabbi ariel levin. there no umbrella organization jews in georgia, more 30 jewish institutions in existence, in addition 1 jewish day school , 4 supplementary schools. 3 jewish newspapers published - menora, shalom, , 26 century, , there jewish radio , television station.

tbilisi synagogue, hanukkah prayer

the jewish population of georgia has steadily decreased on years due aliyah in response political , economic issues since independence. overall, since 1989, 21,134 jews have moved israel. once numbering many 100,000, today georgian jewish population approximately 13,000. tbilisi has largest jewish population @ 11,000 out of 1.5 million. jewish communities located in tbilisi, kutaisi, batumi, oni, akhaltsikhe, akhalkalaki, surami, kareli, , stalin s hometown of gori, , synagogues located in of these cities. provinces of abkhazia , south ossetia virtually devoid of jews due military conflicts in these areas. many abkhazian jews emigrated israel abkhazia during war in 1990s there, while few stayed elderly. synagogue still active in sukhumi. there 1 jew left in south ossetia (see articles history of jews in abkhazia , history of jews in south ossetia).

in january 2001, in first step toward establishing relations, georgian orthodox church , jewish community of georgia signed cooperation agreement of mutual respect , support. in 2002, georgian orthodox christianity established state religion, , since there has been concern religious minorities in country. relations between georgia , israel warm, however. israeli embassy located in tbilisi , serves armenia; georgian embassy in tel aviv. israel has supplied humanitarian aid georgia number of times, including drought assistance , aid earthquake victims.

the jewish agency israel (jafi) , american jewish joint distribution committee (jdc) both have permanent representatives in georgia. jdc , hesed eliyahu distribute food , medical aid jewish elderly, make more 50% of georgian jewish community.

as result of 2008 south ossetia war, 200 georgian jews immigrated israel assistance jewish agency. during war, jewish quarter of tskhinvali destroyed during battle of tskhinvali.