The Old Jewish Cemetery of Lailashi

Lechkhumi Region

Today, Lailashi is a small Georgian mountain village located at 850 meters above sea level, home to only a few hundred residents. But in the past, it was home to significant Jewish and Armenian communities.

It is believed that the first Jewish colony in Georgia was founded in Mtskheta in the 60s of the 2nd century, which is confirmed by ancient gravestones inscribed in Aramaic using Hebrew square script. Later, during Georgia’s Christianization period, Jewish families left major cities and resettled across the mountain valleys—particularly in the remote regions of Racha and Lechkhumi.

The Jewish community of this area was one of the most isolated in Georgia. Some sources say Jews arrived here either from Akhaltsikhe or Akhalkalaki. The gravestones in the cemetery date back to the late 18th–early 20th centuries. The necropolis sits on a hill overlooking the surrounding mountains, and there is even a small bench where you can sit and reflect.

In the 1860s, a new synagogue was built in the village itself. It is usually open, and visitors can enter freely. In the 1940s, a 10th-century Torah scroll was discovered here, later named the Lailashi Bible. Today, it is preserved in one of Tbilisi’s museums.

According to local legend, the scroll floated down a mountain river; flames burned around the book, yet the scroll itself did not burn.

Throughout the 20th century, the Jews of Lailashi gradually left—first for larger cities (primarily Kutaisi), and later for Israel. By 1999, only one Jewish family remained in the village. A similar story can be seen in Oni, where once 2–3 thousand Jews lived, and today around 15 remain (my video from the historic Oni synagogue is here).

Location: The road is good, recently renewed. Accessible with a regular car — no high clearance needed.

Distance from Tbilisi

Lailashi is approximately 280 km from Tbilisi, about 4.5–5 hours of driving, depending on traffic and weather.