Kutaisi has had a Jewish community — the Kartvelian Jews, distinct from Ashkenazi Jews and one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world — for more than two thousand years. At its peak in the early 20th century, the Jewish quarter was a substantial part of the city. The synagogue on Boris Gaponov Street survives as the community's main religious centre, and still holds services for the remaining community.
The building dates to the 19th century and reflects a Georgian-Jewish architectural style that blends local and synagogue traditions. The interior is active and well maintained. Most of the Kutaisi Jewish community emigrated to Israel after Georgian independence, reducing a population of tens of thousands to a few hundred, but the synagogue remains a living reminder of what was once a defining part of the city's character.
Visitors interested in Jewish Georgia will find Kutaisi more rewarding than Tbilisi in some ways — the community was rooted here for longer and the architecture reflects it. It is polite to contact the synagogue in advance if you plan to visit.