David Baazov Museum of History of Jews of Georgia
Encyclopedia
The David Baazov Museum of History of Jews of Georgia is a principal museum of the Jewish history and culture in Tbilisi
, Georgia
. It was established by the decision of Administration of the "Georgian Committee for assisting the Poor" (established in 1928) on November 30, 1932 as a departmental organization within the framework of cultural base of Jewish workers; it was officially founded by the order of People's Commissariat of Education of Georgia on November 23, 1933, under the title 'Jewish Historic-Ethnographic Museum'.
(presently at 3, Anton Cathalicos St).
The Museum building was constructed in the early 20th century; it is built of brick; polygonal from the outside and circular
inside (with 3 apses), with two (big and little) domes mounted on 8 coupled reinforced-concrete pillars located along the perimeter; as a result of reconstruction the building has become three-storied, approximately 20 metres long and wide and 21 metres high.
The Museum was closed in 1951, during a period of antisemitic actions in the USSR.
Museum was recommenced by the decision No. 1017 of the Government of Georgia
of 30 November 1992 based on the submission of the Association for Georgian-Jewish Relations of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
and named after David Baazov
, the famous rabbi
and public figure. The Museum was put under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia; the Georgian Academy of Sciences was entrusted with its scientific management; in 2000-2004, the Museum was placed under the Ministry of Culture of
Georgia and Tbilisi City Administration
For the purpose of preservation of the important historical building (which was in a poor condition), and of the museum, which was of national and international importance, special measures were worked out to ensure functioning and reconstruction of the Museum as a treasure-house of the centuries-old history of Jewish life in Georgia, and as a unique scientific center studying Georgian-Jewish relations. This followed the appeal of the Association for Georgian-Jewish Relations, and was carried out according to order No.654 of the President of Georgia
of 25 July, 2004 `Concerning arrangements for restoration-reconstruction of David Baazov Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia`.
According to the decree of the President of Georgia No. 493 of 16 August, 2006, a new legal status of the Museum was established as well as its name: `David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia`. The Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia was charged with carrying out its governmental control.
The Museum possesses many exhibits
, epigraphic, manuscript
, archaeological, ethnographic, historical and art
rarities, the archives, etc. which, after the abolishment of the Museum in 1951, were placed in various museums, institutes and depositories.
The return of materials belonging to the museum was stipulated by order No.654 of the President of Georgia
of 2004, along with the completion of building reconstruction. "Hebraic studies" – volume 5 of an important series (I-1940, II-1941, III-1945, IV-2006, V-2008) was published; expeditions to various regions of Georgia were carried out, exhibitions arranged; international conferences on the issues of the Georgian Jews, and on the history of Georgian-Palestinian and Georgian-Jewish relations, were held.
exemplifies the centuries-old peaceful interrelation of two ancient nations, Georgian and Jewish; and this relationship, against a background of history of the Jews of Georgia
, is one of the main features of the exhibition.
On the basis of biblical, archaeological, historical and linguistic
data, the following issues are covered by the exhibition:
The leitmotif
of the exhibition is as follows: the Georgian Jews have maintained acenturies-old way of life in Georgia and are also firmly rooted in its history, and this is a clear manifestation of the two nations' tolerance. Georgia has given the world a demonstration of the nations' peaceful co-existence.
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. It was established by the decision of Administration of the "Georgian Committee for assisting the Poor" (established in 1928) on November 30, 1932 as a departmental organization within the framework of cultural base of Jewish workers; it was officially founded by the order of People's Commissariat of Education of Georgia on November 23, 1933, under the title 'Jewish Historic-Ethnographic Museum'.
History
At first, the Museum was located in the building of the Jewish cultural centre (presently at 10, Abesadze St) and from 1940, in the so-called Dome-shaped SynagogueSynagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
(presently at 3, Anton Cathalicos St).
The Museum building was constructed in the early 20th century; it is built of brick; polygonal from the outside and circular
inside (with 3 apses), with two (big and little) domes mounted on 8 coupled reinforced-concrete pillars located along the perimeter; as a result of reconstruction the building has become three-storied, approximately 20 metres long and wide and 21 metres high.
The Museum was closed in 1951, during a period of antisemitic actions in the USSR.
Museum was recommenced by the decision No. 1017 of the Government of Georgia
Cabinet of Georgia
The Cabinet of Georgia is an executive council of government ministers in Georgia. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia. In the cases of utmost importance, the meetings may be led by the President of Georgia . The first Cabinet of Georgia was formed by Noe Zhordania in the Democratic...
of 30 November 1992 based on the submission of the Association for Georgian-Jewish Relations of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
Georgian Academy of Sciences
The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is a main learned society of the Georgia. It was named Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences until November 1990...
and named after David Baazov
David Baazov
David Baazov was a Georgian-Jewish public and religious figure who spearheaded Zionist movement in Georgia. His program was an amalgam of moderate orthodox religiosity, enlightenment, and Zionism....
, the famous rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and public figure. The Museum was put under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia; the Georgian Academy of Sciences was entrusted with its scientific management; in 2000-2004, the Museum was placed under the Ministry of Culture of
Georgia and Tbilisi City Administration
For the purpose of preservation of the important historical building (which was in a poor condition), and of the museum, which was of national and international importance, special measures were worked out to ensure functioning and reconstruction of the Museum as a treasure-house of the centuries-old history of Jewish life in Georgia, and as a unique scientific center studying Georgian-Jewish relations. This followed the appeal of the Association for Georgian-Jewish Relations, and was carried out according to order No.654 of the President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
of 25 July, 2004 `Concerning arrangements for restoration-reconstruction of David Baazov Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia`.
According to the decree of the President of Georgia No. 493 of 16 August, 2006, a new legal status of the Museum was established as well as its name: `David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia`. The Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia was charged with carrying out its governmental control.
The Museum possesses many exhibits
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
, epigraphic, manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
, archaeological, ethnographic, historical and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
rarities, the archives, etc. which, after the abolishment of the Museum in 1951, were placed in various museums, institutes and depositories.
The return of materials belonging to the museum was stipulated by order No.654 of the President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
of 2004, along with the completion of building reconstruction. "Hebraic studies" – volume 5 of an important series (I-1940, II-1941, III-1945, IV-2006, V-2008) was published; expeditions to various regions of Georgia were carried out, exhibitions arranged; international conferences on the issues of the Georgian Jews, and on the history of Georgian-Palestinian and Georgian-Jewish relations, were held.
Expositional conception
The history of GeorgiaGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
exemplifies the centuries-old peaceful interrelation of two ancient nations, Georgian and Jewish; and this relationship, against a background of history of the Jews of Georgia
Georgian Jews
The Georgian Jews are from the nation of Georgia, in the Caucasus...
, is one of the main features of the exhibition.
On the basis of biblical, archaeological, historical and linguistic
Natural language
In the philosophy of language, a natural language is any language which arises in an unpremeditated fashion as the result of the innate facility for language possessed by the human intellect. A natural language is typically used for communication, and may be spoken, signed, or written...
data, the following issues are covered by the exhibition:
- Georgia (the CaucasusCaucasusThe Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
)-Palestine historical and cultural relations (the Stone AgeStone AgeThe Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
, the Bronze AgeBronze AgeThe Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, antique period, the Middle Ages) that is explained by the existence of a common historical and cultural area; - Various periods of the Jews' arrival, settling and rooting in Georgia: the 8th c. B.C. (Shalmaneser VShalmaneser VShalmaneser V was king of Assyria from 727 to 722 BC. He first appears as governor of Zimirra in Phoenicia in the reign of his father, Tiglath-Pileser III....
), the 6th c. B.C. (after 586, Nebuchadnezzar II), the 2nd – 1st cc. B.C., the 19th – 20th cc.; - The phenomenon of the Jews of Georgia (anthropological, ethnic, socialSocialThe term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
, juridical, religious, cultural, ethnographic, etc. aspects); - The contribution of Georgian Jews to publicPublicIn public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...
, economic, cultural, and scientific fields in Georgia; - The role of Georgian Jews in the dissemination of ChristianityChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
within Georgia; - Monuments of Georgian spiritual and material culture in `The Holy LandHoly LandThe Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
`; - Isotheistic theory concerning the origin of Georgian kings (according to which Georgian kings – the Bagrationis were said to be descendants of the biblical Jewish kings DavidDavidDavid was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
, SolomonSolomonSolomon , according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a King of Israel and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before...
and Joseph, husband of the Mother of God, and by this line connected with the Lord) - Symbols related to the biblical King David (e.g. the hexagram, the Bagrationis' coat of armsCoat of armsA coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
) in medieval Georgian material culture; - Monuments of the Georgian Jews spiritual and material culture, their religious life and traditions;
- The Georgian Jews' way of life and culture;
- The absence of antisemitism on the part of government in the history of Georgia. There are mentioned selflessness and self-sacrifice of the Georgians who were saving the Jews in the beginning of the 20th c. when antisemitic pogromPogromA pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s took place in RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and the Jewish captives during the World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; - Periods of the Jews' return from Georgia to their historically native land (and other countries of the world): the 19th c. – beginning of the 20th c., from the 70s of the 20th c. MetaphysicalMetaphysicsMetaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, historical, social and political aspects of this phenomenon are explained; considerable facts of the Georgian Jews' attitude towards Georgia as their `second native land`, as well as present-day Georgia-Israel governmental, scientific, cultural and social interrelation are examined; - Jewish, Georgian-Jewish governmental and public organizations functioning in Georgia;
- There will be different photographs, textual, subject materials presented in the exhibition: maps, landscapes, districts of the Jews' historical settlement in Georgia, views of the religious buildings and cemeteriesCemeteryA cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, demographic data, rich historical, archaeological, ethnographic, epigraphic, hand-written and printed materials, works by the Georgian Jewish `primitivist` Shalom KoboshviliShalom KoboshviliShalom Koboshvili was a Georgian artist who specialised in drawings and paintings of Jewish life in Georgia....
, the Jewish artist S.Gershov, and other painters.
The leitmotif
Leitmotif
A leitmotif , sometimes written leit-motif, is a musical term , referring to a recurring theme, associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical idea of idée fixe...
of the exhibition is as follows: the Georgian Jews have maintained acenturies-old way of life in Georgia and are also firmly rooted in its history, and this is a clear manifestation of the two nations' tolerance. Georgia has given the world a demonstration of the nations' peaceful co-existence.
Literature
- State Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia, `Tbilisi`, Encyclopaedia, Tbilisi, 2002 (in Georgian).
- A.Gegechkori, Ashkenazi synagogues in Tbilisi, `Menora-10`, Tbilisi, 2003 (in Georgian).
- G.Chanishvili, The building of David Baazov Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia, Tbilisi, 2003 (in Georgian).
- G.Gambashidze, David Baazov Historical and Ethnographical Museum of [Jews of Georgia: history and future prospects. International scientific conference dedicated to David Baazov's 120th and Gerzel BaazovGerzel BaazovGerzel Baazov was a Georgian Jewish poet and playwright who fell victim to Stalin’s Great Purges.He was born in Oni, Georgia into the family of the leading Georgian Zionist David Baazov. At the age of 14, he published his first poems under the penname of Ger-Bi...
's 100th anniversaries, Jerusalem, 2005 (in Georgian).
- Sh.Tsitsuashvili, Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Georgian Jews (1933-1951). `Works` of D.Baazov Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia, IV, Tbilisi, 2006 (in Georgian and English).
- T.Tsagareishvili, Academician Giorgi Chitaya and Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia. `Works` of D.Baazov Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Jews of Georgia, IV, Tbilisi, 2006 (in Georgian and English).
- Synagogues, `Tbilisi`, Old cities of Georgia, Tbilisi, 2006 (in Georgian and English).
- Georgian museums, Guidebook, Tbilisi, 2006 (in Georgian and English).