KRASNAYA SLOBODA

Krasnaya, across the river, is the only city - it is a city in the city - outside of Israel, entirely populated by Jews. Here the mosques are replaced by synagogues, the inhabitants welcome themselves by saying «shalom! ' and not'Salaam! ", and the cemetery is surrounded by walls adorned with stars of David. The origin of the 6 000 inhabitants of the city remains mysterious: according to legend, they could be the descendants of Israel's lost tribe; according to other sources, they would be the heirs of Jews who fled Iran in the th century or, quite simply, premises converted to Judaism for the sake of neutrality between Christians and Muslims! The only certainty is the prosperity of the city, visible to its large modern houses, its pristine streets and its imposing synagogues. The two cities, Guba and Krasnaya, are separated by a long pedestrian bridge which crosses the river Qudialchay. The elders of both communities find themselves in Nizami Park to play the Nart and drink tea, symbols of harmony between the two cities.