David Baazov (Georgian: დავით ბააზოვი; 1883–1947) was a Georgian-Jewish public and religious figure who spearheaded the Zionist movement in Georgia. His program was an amalgam of moderate orthodox religiosity, enlightenment, and Zionism. He was born in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia (then part of the Russian Empire) into a family of rabbis. He was educated in Jewish philosophy and history at Slutsk and Vilnius where he became exposed to Zionist ideas.
In 1903, he attended the Sixth Zionist Congress in Basel. Returning to Georgia, Baazov became a rabbi in the town of Oni and quickly emerged as a leader of Zionism in Georgia. His growing influence was opposed by a group of anti-Zionist rabbis and the so-called "assimilationist" Jewish intellectuals who put forward the thesis that the Georgian Jews were ethnic Georgians and "Israelites by religion."[1]
1918edit
In 1918, Baazov founded the first Georgian-Jewish Zionist paper ebraelis khma ("The Voice of Jew") and helped organize the All-Jewish Congress in Tbilisi which included representatives from every Georgian and Russian Jewish community in the country, except for Kutaisi, which had become the center of the Jewish anti-Zionism. At that time, he served as a rabbi in Akhaltsikhe and exploited his friendly ties with a local Muslim clergy to save many Christians during a brief Ottoman occupation of the area in 1918.
1921-1925edit
After the Sovietization of Georgia in 1921, Baazov, aided by his son, the leading Georgian-Jewish writer Gerzel Baazov, organized Jewish schools across the country and later founded the magazine makaveeli ("Maccabean") which was closed by the Soviet authorities during a crackdown on Georgian Jewish cultural institutions after the 1924 anti-SovietAugust Uprising in Georgia. Next year, he managed to secure the free passage for several Georgian Jewish families to the Land of Israel, launching the first large wave of Aliyah from Georgia.
1938-1945edit
During the purge of 1938, both of his sons were arrested by the Soviet NKVD and Gerzel was executed. Soon, David Baazov was also arrested and sentenced to death for "Zionist activities". The sentence was later commuted to exile in Siberia. In 1945, he returned to the Georgian SSR and chiefly engaged in educational activities.
Legacyedit
The main writer on David Baazov and the main collector of his works was his daughter Fanny Baazova (1912–1980). The Georgian Jews' History Museum in Tbilisi has been named after him.[2]
In 1980's the Baazovs family, as a sign of goodwill, helped the family of the namesakes Sarah and Joseph Baazovs and their young children Amnon, Eli, Josh and David Baazovs move to Canada. [3] The family moved to a new place shortly after the birth of their youngest son David. [4]
Referencesedit
(in Russian) Баазов Давид. Online Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved on August 8, 2007.
^Yaacov Ro’i, Avi Beker (1991), Jewish Culture and Identity in the Soviet Union, p. 390. NYU Press, ISBN0-8147-7432-6.
^David Baazov Georgian Jew History Museum. Georgian Museums. Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport. Accessed on August 10, 2007.
david, baazov, georgian, დავით, ბააზოვი, 1883, 1947, georgian, jewish, public, religious, figure, spearheaded, zionist, movement, georgia, program, amalgam, moderate, orthodox, religiosity, enlightenment, zionism, born, tskhinvali, south, ossetia, georgia, the. David Baazov Georgian დავით ბააზოვი 1883 1947 was a Georgian Jewish public and religious figure who spearheaded the Zionist movement in Georgia His program was an amalgam of moderate orthodox religiosity enlightenment and Zionism He was born in Tskhinvali South Ossetia Georgia then part of the Russian Empire into a family of rabbis He was educated in Jewish philosophy and history at Slutsk and Vilnius where he became exposed to Zionist ideas David BaazovBorn1883Tskhinvali Russian Empire present day Georgia South Ossetia Died1947 aged 63 64 NationalityGeorgianMemory desk on the house where Baazov lived Tbilisi Georgia Contents 1 1903 2 1918 3 1921 1925 4 1938 1945 5 Legacy 6 References1903 editIn 1903 he attended the Sixth Zionist Congress in Basel Returning to Georgia Baazov became a rabbi in the town of Oni and quickly emerged as a leader of Zionism in Georgia His growing influence was opposed by a group of anti Zionist rabbis and the so called assimilationist Jewish intellectuals who put forward the thesis that the Georgian Jews were ethnic Georgians and Israelites by religion 1 1918 editIn 1918 Baazov founded the first Georgian Jewish Zionist paper ebraelis khma The Voice of Jew and helped organize the All Jewish Congress in Tbilisi which included representatives from every Georgian and Russian Jewish community in the country except for Kutaisi which had become the center of the Jewish anti Zionism At that time he served as a rabbi in Akhaltsikhe and exploited his friendly ties with a local Muslim clergy to save many Christians during a brief Ottoman occupation of the area in 1918 1921 1925 editAfter the Sovietization of Georgia in 1921 Baazov aided by his son the leading Georgian Jewish writer Gerzel Baazov organized Jewish schools across the country and later founded the magazine makaveeli Maccabean which was closed by the Soviet authorities during a crackdown on Georgian Jewish cultural institutions after the 1924 anti Soviet August Uprising in Georgia Next year he managed to secure the free passage for several Georgian Jewish families to the Land of Israel launching the first large wave of Aliyah from Georgia 1938 1945 editDuring the purge of 1938 both of his sons were arrested by the Soviet NKVD and Gerzel was executed Soon David Baazov was also arrested and sentenced to death for Zionist activities The sentence was later commuted to exile in Siberia In 1945 he returned to the Georgian SSR and chiefly engaged in educational activities Legacy editThe main writer on David Baazov and the main collector of his works was his daughter Fanny Baazova 1912 1980 The Georgian Jews History Museum in Tbilisi has been named after him 2 In 1980 s the Baazovs family as a sign of goodwill helped the family of the namesakes Sarah and Joseph Baazovs and their young children Amnon Eli Josh and David Baazovs move to Canada 3 The family moved to a new place shortly after the birth of their youngest son David 4 References edit in Russian Baazov David Online Jewish Encyclopedia Retrieved on August 8 2007 Yaacov Ro i Avi Beker 1991 Jewish Culture and Identity in the Soviet Union p 390 NYU Press ISBN 0 8147 7432 6 David Baazov Georgian Jew History Museum Georgian Museums Ministry of Culture Monuments Protection and Sport Accessed on August 10 2007 The Story Of Josh Baazov AMF chronicles The Story Of Josh Baazov AMF chronicles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Baazov amp oldid 1210177021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
