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• 16 Oct 2023     Finance

I'd like to share some thoughts that have been on my mind. I am among the few people who truly know my background and life story. I arrived in Israel with my single mother after the dissolution of the Soviet Union following the Azerbaijan-Armenia war.

I'd like to share some thoughts that have been on my mind. I am among the few people who truly know my background and life story. I arrived in Israel with my single mother after the dissolution of the Soviet Union following the Azerbaijan-Armenia war. My mother married a Jewish man, and from a young age, I considered him my father, despite not sharing a biological connection. This experience, which many men today struggle with, shaped my upbringing in a culturally diverse household, as we welcomed people of various backgrounds into our home. However, it had a significant impact on my identity, as I grew up with a dual heritage, embracing both Islam, which I was raised in, and my discovery of Judaism as I searched for a deeper connection with God. This has been a deeply personal journey that I kept largely hidden from others because I knew people had varying opinions, and I didn't have the patience to engage with them.

When I embarked on my professional career, I realized I would face criticism, so I decided to proudly represent both sides of my heritage without compromising my integrity. I've witnessed substantial support from both of my nations, Azerbaijan and Israel, and while there have been detractors who object to me because of my heritage, it's essential to me that I'm proud to be part of the Jewish people, even if it's not the most significant part. This war has shown me more than ever that our nation is unparalleled, displaying unity, support, and contributions. I've never paid much attention to anti-Semitism, as I didn't feel it affected me greatly. But today, I have a problem with anyone who supports the death of innocent Jews, and that person becomes my automatic adversary. I am a child of a Holocaust survivor who escaped Poland, and all this because she was Jewish.

Today, I understand that my arrival in this world and my unique experiences were not by chance. God has opened doors for me and given me opportunities, and I believe I have a purpose in this world: to showcase the beautiful side of our nations, demonstrating that we genuinely desire peace. I genuinely believe that I can be an advocate for peace between Muslims and Jews in the world. I grew up in Israel, a nation where Arabs, Jews, Druze, and Christians live and work together harmoniously. Our common enemy is extremism and terrorism. More than ever, I am proud to be Israeli and proud of all the facets of my identity.

I am proud to be an Azerbaijani Muslim and equally proud to be considered Jewish. To those who cannot accept that, it's their problem, not mine.

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