Mountain Jewish Community of Kabardino-Balkaria from 1944 to 1965

This article addresses the issue of state-religious relations through the lens of the registered religious community of Mountain Jews in the city of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. The selected period from 1944 to 1965 encompasses the operations of the Council for Religious Affairs and its regional representation. The aim of this study is to identify state policies regarding the Mountain Jewish believers based on archival documents and thematic analysis. The research reveals that from the early 1950s, bureaucratic pressure on the religious community intensified within a multi-tiered system of control. Protocols, cash receipts, and reports obtained from the Mountain Jewish community served as an informational basis for the regional representative of the Council for Religious Affairs when preparing documents for the central authority. The closure of the synagogue, restrictions on cooperation in preparing believers for holidays, and various bureaucratic maneuvers did not yield the desired results for the authorities. Despite the official closure of the synagogue in 1951, religious holidays resonated widely among believers beyond the registered group and official mandates. In the context of financial flows and material concerns, Mountain Jewish believers found ways to circumvent the constraints imposed by the state.

Mountain Jewish community, KabardinoBalkaria, synagogue, Council for Religious Affairs, religious holidays, scientific atheism