History of the Jews in Armenia
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The History of the Jews in Armenia dates back almost 2,000 years. In the 1st century BC, Armenian monarch, Tigranes the Great retreated from Palestine and brought with him 10,000 Jews. In the early 19th century, however, Jews began arriving in Armenia from Poland and Iran, creating Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities in Yerevan. More Jews moved to Armenia during its period as a Soviet republic finding more tolerance in the area than in Russia or Ukraine. After World War II, the Jewish population rose to approximately 5,000. However, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union many have left due to inadequate services and today the country's Jewish population has shrunk to 750. Despite the small numbers, a high intermarriage rate and relative isolation, a lot of enthusiasm exists to help the community meet its needs. [1] There are many noteworthy Armenians with full or partial Jewish ancestry among the Armenian diaspora, including Garry Kasparov, World Chess Champion from 1985 to 1991 and Yelena Bonner, a human rights activist in the former Soviet Union.
There is a tiny community of Subbotnik Jews, whose ancestors converted to Judaism, and are quickly dwindling. [1]
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[edit] See also
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Dependencies and territories
Åland • Akrotiri and Dhekelia • Faroe Islands • Gibraltar • Guernsey • Jersey • Isle of Man
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