Judeo-Tat Theatre

Traditionally, the Judeo-Tat Theatre created and performed works in Derbent, where most of the Mountain Jews lived. The first theatrical event by Mountain Jews took place in December 1903 when Asaf Agarunov, a teacher and Zionist, staged a play based on a story by Naum Shoykovich, translated from Hebrew, titled "The Burn for Burn". The performance was held in honor of schoolteacher Nagdimuna ben Simona (Shimunov)’s wedding. == Theater in the Soviet Union ==

Derbent (Dagestan) In 1918, a drama studio was established in Derbent under the leadership of Rabbi Yashayo Rabinovich. In 1924, Yuno Semyonov staged two plays in the Derbent Mountain Jewish circle: "Two Leather Sellers" and A "Cunning Matchmaker." It is unknown how long the group lasted. Theatre during World War II During World War II, most of the theater's actors were drafted into the army, and many lost their lives in the war. In 1943, the theater resumed its work, but it was closed in 1948, officially due to unprofitability. Post-war period On April 28, 1959, the board of the Stalin collective farm appealed to the city's party committee, requesting the creation of a Mountain Jewish People's Theatre as an amateur arts circle. Pyotr Rafailovich Agarunov (1930–2006), an Excellent Worker of the USSR State Television and Radio Broadcasting, was invited from Baku to help organize the theater's development. Musaib Dzhum-Dzhum (1905–1974), of Azerbaijani descent, was appointed as the theater director and was honored with the title ''People's Artist of the Dagestan ASSR. He was highly knowledgeable about the language and culture of the Mountain Jews. The composer Djumshud Ashurov was named music director, while Mikhail Gavrilov (1926–2014), an Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Dagestan'', served as the administrator. In the 1960s, the theater resumed its activities and experienced a second heyday. The beloved actress Akhso Shalumova (1907–1985), an Honored Artist of the Dagestan ASSR, returned to the stage. She played the role of Shahnugor, the wife of Shimi Derbendi (), based on the stories of writer Hizgil Avshalumov. In the 1970s, the People's Judeo-Tat Theatre was officially established. For many years, it was led by Abram Avdalimov (1929–2004), an Honored Cultural Worker of the Dagestan ASSR, as well as a singer, actor, and playwright. His successor was Roman Izyaev (1940–2018), who was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour for his distinguished service. == Theater in Russia ==

In the 1990s, the Judeo-Tat Theatre faced another crisis, with performances becoming rare and no new premieres being staged. It was only in 2000, after becoming a municipal theater, that it was able to resume its activities. From 2000 to 2002, the theater was led by actor and musician Raziil Semenovich Ilyaguev (1945–2016), an Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Dagestan. For the next two years, Alesya Natanovna Isakova served as the theater’s director. In 2004, Lev Manakhimov (1950–2021), an Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan, became the artistic director. In 2021, after his death, the Derbent Theater was renamed the Municipal Judeo-Tat Theater named after Lev Yakovlevich Manakhimov. Boris Yudaev took over as the theater's head. Throughout the theater’s long history, many talented actors have graced its stage, including Bikel Matatova (1928–2013), an Honored Worker of Culture of the Dagestan ASSR; Avshalum Yakubovich Nakhshunov (Shori-Artist) (1925–1997), Mozol Izrailova, an Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Dagestan; as well as Anatoly Yusupov, Raya Novakhova, Israel Tsvaygenbaum, Eva Shalver-Abramova, and many others. == Theatre in Israel ==

In 2001, artistic director, actor, screenwriter, and set designer Roman Izyaev founded the Mountain Jews' theater Rambam in the Israeli city of Hadera. The troupe has toured not only in cities with Mountain Jewish communities in Israel but also in Canada, the United States, Azerbaijan, and Moscow, Russia. After the death of Roman Izyaev in 2018, Eva Shalver-Abramova became the chief director of the Rambam theater. In 2019, the Hadera Municipality withdrew its financial support for the Judeo-Tat Theater. Thanks to the determination and donations of the actors themselves, the theater was able to continue operating and staging performances until 2022. After that, it ceased to exist in Israel. == Notable people ==

• Djumshud Ashurov (1913–1980), a composer and musical director • Abram Avdalimov (1929–2004), a stage actor and artistic director • Musaib Dzhum-Dzhum (1905–1974), an artistic director • Mikhail Gavrilov (1926–2014), theater director • Mozol Izrailova, a stage actress • Roman Izyaev (1940–2018), a stage actor and artistic director • Lev Manakhimov (1950–2021), an artistic director • Bikel Matatova (1928–2013), a stage actress • Yuno Semyonov (1899–1961), an artistic director • Akhso Shalumova (1907–1985), a stage actress • Israel Tsvaygenbaum, an artist and actor ==References==