Religion & communities
Restoration of synagogues, including the Moscow Choral Synagogue, donation of Torah scrolls, support for rabbis and cantors, and coordination of community life worldwide.
Biography
From Krasnaya Sloboda to Moscow
German Rashbilovich Zakharyaev was born on 7 July 1971 in Krasnaya Sloboda (Quba district, Azerbaijan) — one of the few places in the world where Mountain Jews live compactly. He grew up in a large Mountain Jewish family that preserves its traditions and the Juhuri language.
His father — the well-known journalist and poet Rashbil Zakharyaev — died suddenly at the age of 38, when German was only seven. The memory of his father and of his native community became one of the driving forces behind his later work.
In 1992 German Zakharyaev moved to Moscow and started his own business in trade. He also studied at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, where in 2006 he defended a dissertation on “The Evolution of the Religious-Theological Concept of Hasidism” and earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy.
He is married and is raising four children in the traditions of the Mountain Jews.
Life's work
The Mountain Jews' Foundation STMEGI
In 2001 the Zakharyaev family founded and registered the STMEGI charity foundation in Moscow. The name is an acronym from the initials of the six Zakharyaev brothers. Today it is the world's largest organization uniting Mountain Jews.
Publishing & scholarship
Publishing books on the history, literature and ethnography of the Mountain Jews; the STMEGI Library in Moscow; support for research.
The Juhuri language
A program to preserve the Mountain Jews' language: children's study circles, textbooks, dictionaries and video lessons.
Support for the diaspora
Regular assistance to community members facing hardship in Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and other countries.
Flagship initiative
26 Iyar — the Day of Salvation and Liberation
On German Zakharyaev's initiative, a new holiday was added to the Jewish religious calendar, dedicated to the victory over Nazism and the rescue of the Jewish people from total annihilation. 9 May 1945 fell on 26 Iyar 5705 in the Jewish calendar.
In February 2014 Zakharyaev appealed to leading rabbis in Israel, Russia and Europe to approve 26 Iyar as a sacred day of gratitude. The initiative received wide support — from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Conference of European Rabbis and the Russian Jewish clergy.
The holiday is marked with prayer in synagogues and home ceremonies — lighting three candles: for the salvation, in memory of the fallen, and in honor of the liberating soldiers.
- 2013First commemorative prayers in synagogues across Russia.
- 2014First official celebration — at the Knesset and the Western Wall.
- 2015The Toulouse Declaration confirmed the date's place in the Jewish calendar for the 70th anniversary of Victory.
- 2018The Israeli Knesset passed a law officially recognizing the holiday.
“Whoever saves one life saves the entire world.” We thank the Almighty for the deliverance and pray that nothing like it ever happens again.
Word & memory
The STMEGI media group
In 2011 German Zakharyaev launched STMEGI.COM, the first Jewish information and media portal. Today the media group comprises an online portal, a TV channel and print editions, with correspondents in Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan, the USA, Germany and Canada.
- STMEGI.COM portal — daily news of the Jewish world
- The STMEGI-TV internet channel
- The newspapers “STMEGI.COM Monthly” and “Birlik-Unity” (Azerbaijan)
- Video lessons in the Juhuri language
Homeland
The Museum of Mountain Jews in Krasnaya Sloboda
With the participation of German Zakharyaev and the STMEGI Foundation, the Museum of History and Culture of the Mountain Jews opened in Krasnaya Sloboda in 2019, in the building of the restored Karchogi Synagogue. The foundation developed the museum's concept and assembled its exhibits.
The museum preserves and passes on to future generations the history of Krasnaya Sloboda, the material and spiritual culture of the Mountain Jews across the ages, and the memory of the village's outstanding residents.
Recognition
Awards & honors
- 2019Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation — for labor achievements and many years of conscientious work
- 2016Taraggi (Progress) Medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan — for contributions to strengthening friendship between peoples
- 2019“Fiddler on the Roof” Award in the Public Activity category
- 2020Letter of Gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation
- 2021Medal “For Merit in Diaspora Activity” (Azerbaijan)
Video