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30 members of Knesset, including past and present ministers, from Government and333 Opposition, have written to the Azeri Speaker of Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, and members of the Azeri Parliament 

In their letter, the Israeli parliamentarians wrote:

“Our congratulations go to you, our friends, the Speaker and members of the Azeri parliament on the opening of the Azeri Embassy in Israel. This is a significant step in advancing the brave cooperation between the two countries and constitutes a natural continuation of centuries-old friendship between the Azeri and Jewish nations, and the Jewish community in Azerbaijan.”

In addition, ministers and members of Knesset wrote that “We share a common and dangerous enemy – the Iranian tyranny that threatens to destroy both our nations. The Ayatollah regime, that cruelly murders its own people and encourages terror throughout the world, uses antisemitic propaganda to incite the people of Azerbaijan against the secular government that is respected in the international arena.

“The Persian dictatorship is also making efforts to threaten its northern neighbour by means of force and attempting to establish an Azeri Hezbollah. However all these attempts are in vain. Azerbaijan has proven over and over again that it will not be intimidated by threats, and especially not when it has decided to open an embassy in Israel. Israel and her people hold you in great esteem.”

The Jewish community of Azerbaijan, for its part, thanked the Israeli Knesset members. “This letter is meaningful encouragement for us, and a birthday gift to President Ilham Aliyev, a supporter of Israel and the Jewish people,” said Rabbi Zamir Isayev, rabbi of the Georgian community in Azerbaijan, and member of the international body, the Conference of European Rabbis.

Meanwhile, last weekend Rabbi Isayev embarked on a monthly Torah shabbaton project for all ages in collaboration with Hava’ad Lehatzalat Nidchei Yisrael (The Committee for Rescuing the Rejected of Israel) and Shema Yisrael. The first shabbaton took place for young people at the Central Park Hotel and in the synagogues of the Mountain Jewish communities and Georgian expatriates in the center of Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital.

Participants prayed and ate together, and spent Shabbat immersed in Torah lessons and thought.