Abstract

This paper investigates the historical presence and spatial organization of Jewish communities in northwestern Iran and Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on the vibrant Jewish neighborhoods of Baku and Krasnaya Sloboda. By examining synagogues, communal institutions, and residential areas, the study explores how these sacred and communal spaces structured social life, mediated cultural and economic exchange, and facilitated transregional networks across Central Eurasia.The research situates Iranian cities such as Tabriz and Urmia within a broader regional context, highlighting historical connections between Jewish communities in Iran and the Caucasus. Combining architectural analysis, archival research, and spatial mapping, the study demonstrates how synagogues and communal buildings functioned both as physical anchors and as social infrastructures, enabling Jewish communities to maintain cohesion, identity, and cross-border relations despite changing political landscapes.By foregrounding Jewish sacred and urban spaces in Baku and Krasnaya Sloboda, this paper contributes to broader debates on minority heritage, urban diversity, and spatial politics in Central Eurasia. It argues that examining these communities offers critical insights into the ways marginalized groups shaped and were shaped by the cities they inhabited, revealing the interplay between place, power, and social networks in a transregional setting.