introduction to Jewish heritagein the Red Settlement
Located opposite Guba city on the northern banks of the Gudyalchay River, Red Settlement (also known as Girmizi Gasaba or Krasnaya Sloboda) is a truly unique place to visit. With its distinctive red-tiled roofs, this village is believed to have been the only entirely Jewish settlement outside of Israel and the United States, as well as the world’s last surviving shtetl. Its residents are Mountain Jews whose ancestors have been living in the Guba region for centuries. Founded in the mid-18th century, the settlement thrived under the protection of the ruling Guba khanate, becoming a diverse yet closed community of Mountain Jews. And in the centuries since it has survived plenty of upheavals, maintaining its own culture and traditions, as well as the unique Juhuri language. The Museum of Mountain Jews provides insight into the culture and history of the community living there. You can also visit the synagogue, and the Tourism Centre located here to gain a lot of useful and interesting information.
