The Derbent Community of Mountain Jews: On the Issue of Group’s Identity

Abstract

The article is devoted to the forms of Mountain Jewish identity. It is based on the materials of the Derbent community of Mountain Jews. The Derbent community is one of the largest Mountain Jewish communities. Mountain Jews have retained the idea of internal division into ethnoterritorial and dialect groups. There are many stereotypes and autostereotypes that remain important in various areas of the life of this ethnic group. The article examines the following aspects: what groups and subgroups do Mountain Jews distinguish within their community, what stereotypes and autostereotypes exist in relation to these groups, and the ways in which they are formed. The Derbent group turns out to be central in geographical terms and, in this regard, is perceived by many Mountain Jews as a “model” of tradition and language.