In the heart of Red Settlement — one of the world’s few remaining all-Jewish towns outside Israel, the Museum of Mountain Jews marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a solemn and thought-provoking exhibition. The program commemorated the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 1945, while reinforcing the global responsibility to preserve the truth of Holocaust history.
The exhibition provides visitors with more than a historical timeline. It presents a multi-dimensional exploration of loss, resilience, and survival, with particular attention to Mountain Jewish communities affected by the Holocaust, including those in Crimea, Bogdanovka near Mozdok, and Menzhinsk. By highlighting these often-overlooked histories, the Museum broadens the wider narrative of remembrance to include voices that have historically remained in the background.
The event was led by Azerbaijani-Jewish businessman Vladislav Yusupov, who addressed attendees with remarks centered on intergenerational responsibility. He described the Museum not simply as a cultural institution, but as a living archive, a place where memory is carefully preserved and entrusted to future generations.
Diplomatic representatives joined community leaders for the occasion. Among them was Amy Carlon, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Azerbaijan, accompanied by members of the U.S. Embassy. They were welcomed by German Rashbilovich Zakharyayev, President of the International STMEGI Foundation, and Igor Alexandrovich Shaulov, Director of the Museum of Mountain Jews.
A memorial prayer paid tribute to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, followed by a candlelighting ceremony that brought together officials, community members, and guests in quiet reflection. In her remarks, Ms. Carlon spoke about the importance of defending historical truth and confronting antisemitism wherever it may appear.
The commemoration extended beyond the Museum walls, concluding with a walk through Red Settlement. Visitors explored historic synagogues and crossed the town’s distinctive arched bridge—symbolic reminders that Jewish life in the region endures, sustained not by silence but by remembrance.
Through this gathering, the Museum reinforced a timeless message: remembrance is not only about looking back, but about shaping a more conscious and responsible future.
