“Azerbaijan is a Territory of Tolerance” in a fighting Israel

Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

The Azerbaijani photography exhibition “Azerbaijan is a Territory of Tolerance” has been travelling all over Israel for six months. Each town welcomes it exclusively. But the town of Lod was unique. The photography exhibition organized by the Association of Israel and Azerbaijan (AzIs), the Heydar Aliyev Fund and the National Center of Tolerance of Azerbaijan was planned for July 8th. Even though 100 missiles were launched from Gaza into Israel in the past 24 hours, the initiators of the exhibition decided not to cancel it. However, they doubted whether anybody would come to the exhibition. Love of life and their motherland – Azerbaijan – turned out to be stronger that fear of bombing. The hall was full, but the arrangement started with a delay, as an air defense warning signal was heard. There was no explosion, as a missile launched by terrorists was intercepted by the missile defense system “Iron Dome.”

The only person who didn’t come to the opening ceremony was the mayor of Lod, Yair Revivo, who didn’t have the right to leave the Defense Headquarters. But all other plans were fulfilled.

The ceremony was conducted by Yegyana Salman, the director of AzIs. She expressed gratitude to the viewers for their courage and devotedness. The head of the city office of AzIs, Ilana Leightman, read an interesting report on the life of Jews in Azerbaijan over the centuries.

Later, a film by Israeli journalists on their Baku visit was shown. The guests were glad to watch a concert by natives of the Caucasus and forgot that an air defense warning signal could be heard at any minute.

The well-known duet “Baku-Moscow,” Farid Aloni and Sofi Lieberman; dancers of the ensemble of the Caucasian dances “Dancing Purl” headed by Panina Yaskova, and nagar player Khikmet Sabir-Ogly took part in the concert.

Israeli singer Khava Dolev and famous Azerbaijani singer Nazim Faitonchu presented a new song in Mountain Jew language, which was a pleasant surprise for everybody.

Despite the restless situation, people from other towns came to the opening ceremony.