Baku's Jewish school passes 100 students as Azerbaijan's Jewish community continues to grow

More than 100 students are now enrolled in the Jewish program at Baku’s School No. 46, with the community reporting steady growth in recent years.

The school combines Azerbaijan’s national curriculum with Hebrew, Jewish history and Jewish tradition. Community leaders say the increase in enrollment has been consistent enough that additional space may soon be needed.

The program has been headed since 2008 by Rabbi Zamir Isayev, head of Baku’s Sephardic Jewish community, who recently celebrated his 45th birthday.

To mark the occasion, members of the community gathered with Isayev in a sukkah in Baku, joined by representatives of the Azerbaijani authorities.

Letter from chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations

During the event, Isayev received a congratulatory letter from Ramin Mammadov, chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations.

Mammadov praised the Sephardic community’s role in Azerbaijan’s social and cultural life and its contribution to the country’s tradition of coexistence. He also noted the close relationship between the community and the State Committee.

The letter referred to tolerance, multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue as priorities of state policy under President Ilham Aliyev.

For Isayev, however, the most important story remains the school itself.

Growth reflects desire for strong Jewish identities

He says the rise in enrollment is about much more than crossing the 100-student mark. Each additional child represents another family choosing Jewish education and another part of the next generation growing up connected to its history, tradition and community.

The growth also reflects the confidence of Jewish families in maintaining a strong Jewish identity while remaining fully integrated into Azerbaijani society.

Alongside his work as a rabbi and educator, Isayev has become increasingly active internationally. In recent months, he has traveled frequently to Washington and Jerusalem, taking part in events organized by Jewish groups and aimed at strengthening ties among Azerbaijan, Israel and the United States.

During one recent visit to the US, he also met with Eric Trump for a discussion that included developments in the Caucasus.

Still, Isayev says education remains the heart of his work.

For Baku’s Jewish community, the need for more classroom space is a welcome sign: the community is not only preserving its institutions, but continuing to build for the next generation.