friends-en
«I don't know of any other Muslim country like Azerbaijan that would have such wonderful relations with Israel. The Jewish community here is thriving, and this is a unique example for the entire world.»
Mikhail Finkel is an Orthodox rabbi, Doctor of Law, publicist, writer, and expert on Azerbaijan-Israel relations. Born in 1978 in Moscow, he embarked on a path that combined rabbinical scholarship, legal expertise, and active public engagement.
His rabbinical education was received at seminaries in the United States, and in 2001 he was ordained as a rabbi at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in New York. This classical rabbinical training was complemented by secular academic achievements: he graduated from the University of Rochester and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, earning a Doctorate of Law.
In Israel, Mikhail Finkel became a well-known media figure — a regular expert on Channel 9, where he comments on international affairs, Middle Eastern politics, and Jewish community life worldwide. His analytical approach combines rabbinical depth with legal precision, making him a distinctive voice in Israeli media discourse.
As a writer, Finkel is the author of the novel “The Prague Angel” and the historical work “A Tale of Khazaria” — books that explore Jewish history through the lens of literature and scholarly research. His literary works reflect his broad erudition and ability to make complex historical subjects accessible to a wide audience.
Mikhail Finkel has also served as an international election observer in Azerbaijan, which has given him firsthand knowledge of the country’s political processes and strengthened his expertise in Azerbaijan-Israel relations — a subject on which he is considered one of the leading specialists.
