In the “Museum of Jewish Heritage” in New York, USA, an event on “The Secret of the Mountain Jews: Azerbaijan” and a presentation ceremony of the short feature film “Leila’s Violin” were held.

Diplomats of Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Azerbaijani and Jewish communities operating in the United States participated in the night organized jointly with the support of the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs, “Hold on To Your Music” organization and Azerbaijani composer, musician and writer Ella Leya living in the United States. representatives, art lovers, local and foreign media members participated. The event was held in order to provide information about the heritage, history, and culture of Jews living in Azerbaijan, and to promote Azerbaijan as a multicultural and tolerant country.

Ella Leya, who opened the event with an introductory speech, talked about her memories of Azerbaijan and the movie “Leylan’s Violin” directed by her. The director, who moved from Baku to Moscow and then to California with his family at the age of 20, said that he tried to revive the story that happened in real life. Speaking about his deep attachment to his native land, he noted that the passing time and distance could not separate him from Azerbaijan. “We also tried to convey in the film that the best conditions were created for all religions and ethnic groups to coexist in peace and tranquility throughout history in Azerbaijan,” he said.

Then, the chairman of the Azerbaijan-American Youth Federation, Gunay Mammadova, greeted the event participants on behalf of the Azerbaijani diaspora organizations operating in the United States. He said that Azerbaijan is a country where Jews do not see or feel anti-Semitism. Our country has been distinguished by national cultural diversity, mutual understanding and dialogue for centuries, the largest Jewish community lives peacefully together with the Muslim majority in the capital Baku, the city of Guba and other regions, synagogues operate safely along with mosques and churches, the Jewish communities of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the United States It was emphasized that they have close relations with Azerbaijan and that they promote the rich cultural heritage of Azerbaijan and Jews. 

Always a supporter of peace and the peaceful living of all peoples, including Jews, he reminded that a historical event will take place in Azerbaijan on February 7, and that our people will vote in the early presidential elections for the first time in our country, whose territory has been completely restored, and expressed confidence that the citizens of Azerbaijan who have the right to vote will make the right choice.

In the artistic part, Sabina Rakcheyeva, an Azerbaijani violinist living in Great Britain, Nargiz Aliyarova, a musician living in the United States, an honored artist of Azerbaijan, and the dance group of the New York-based “My way” Children and Youth Development Center performed. Azerbaijani, Jewish music and our national dances were greeted with applause.

Later, a short film entitled “Leila’s Violin” was screened at the Monaco Film Festival, which received the “Angel” award. The work of art created from the unity of eye-catching images with music aroused great interest among the guests. The audience left the event, where extensive information about Azerbaijan was provided, in high spirits.

It should be noted that the film “Leyla’s Violin” is about the journey of a girl named Leyla (played by the young Hollywood actress Sophia Rossinsky) living in California to the place of her birth – Azerbaijan, to the ancient settlement of mountain Jews in the Guba mountains, where she meets Sufi and Kabalistic mystics. and tells of his encounter with the spirit of the red violin.