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Jewish population

around 700 people

EAJC Affiliate

Jewish community of Armenia

jewish.am

rimma_feller@mail.ru

Rimma Varzhapetyan

Historians claim that the Jews arrived in Armenia after the destruction of the First Temple. Modern Jews living in Armenia are almost all Ashkenazi, who came there during the Soviet period. In recent years, most of the Jews of Armenia emigrated to Israel and elsewhere. Almost all other Jews live in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan. There is also a small group of Armenian Jews who live in Vanadzor.

The Jewish Community of Armenia (JCA) was registered in 1991. Now, there are community institutions supporting the Jewish life in the country. Holidays and meetings of Shabbat are held, commemorative Jewish dates are celebrated.

The JCA provides plenty of services for the Armenian Jewish community that go beyond religious needs and representational matters. It is engaged in several charitable and cultural activities, organizes charity events and humanitarian aid. The community also establishes ties and cooperation with the State of Israel and promotes the development of Armenia-Israel relations.