Jewish History in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia. The beautiful and mysterious cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva were thriving trading centers on the ancient Silk Road that connected China to Europe. Uzbekistan was a magnet for invaders, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and then the Persian and Russian Empires.
Uzbekistan is also the traditional home of the Bukharan Jewish Community, some of whom trace their roots in the Diaspora back to the Babylonian Exile. The Kabbalist missionary Yosef Maimon travelled to Bukhara from Morocco in 1793 and joined the Bukharan Jews, eventually converting them from Persian rituals to Sephardic customs.
An exclusive Gil Travel tour of Jewish heritage sites in Uzbekistan brings the ancient Bukharan past to life and includes private guided trips to some of the most important Jewish landmarks in Central Asia. Read on to learn more about Uzbekistan’s Jewish history and luxury kosher travel options.
Keeping Kosher Along the Silk Road
Uzbekistan is a secular state that is culturally Muslim and was officially atheistic during the long Soviet era. There used to be substantial Jewish and Orthodox Christian minorities, but at least 80,000 Uzbeki Jews emmigrated to the US and Israel after the collapse of communism. Around 10,000 Jews – Bukharin and Ashkenazi – remain in Uzbekistan today.
Kosher travel in Central Asia may initially sound challenging, but it’s certainly possible to find delicious kosher food in Uzbekistan, especially when you travel as part of an organized Jewish tour. Uzbekistan is a major grain producer and local Uzbeki cuisine makes extensive use of excellent bread and noodles, as well as rice. Meat is mainly mutton or beef and the signature Uzbeki dish is palov (plov, pilaf or osh) a delicious platter of rice, chunks of meat and vegetables cooked over an open fire in a large kazan pot and often sweetened with fruit.
Traditional kosher Bukharan cuisine draws heavily on local Uzbek styles and features slow cooked Shabbat dishes like oshi sabo a Bukharan plov. A popular staple of Bukharan Friday Shabbat dinners is mai birion, fried fish served with a garlic and cilantro sauce. Kosher Bukharan food is heavily meat based with a preference for beef and chicken. If you require a vegetarian or vegan menu, Gil Travel will make the arrangements.
Gil Travel will liaise with the local Jewish community and Chabad in Uzbekistan to get the most up to date information about top quality kosher restaurants and eateries, as well as kosher street food joints. It’s also possible to arrange to sample some seriously appetizing home cooking. When you set off on guided excursions and day trips to explore Jewish historical and heritage sites in Uzbekistan, Gil Travel will ensure that you travel with plenty of kosher snacks. If there aren’t any suitable kosher restaurants close to your destination, your guides will arrange for private catering.
Synagogues and Jewish Landmarks
Jewish history in Uzbekistan extends back around 2,000 years and Bukharan Jewish society produced an astonishing rich and fascinating cultural heritage. Some of the most important Jewish landmarks in Central Asia are found in the ancient cities of the Silk Road. One of the most spectacular historical cities is Bukhara, once a major commercial, religious and cultural center that drew its wealth from the ancient caravan routes.
The Mahallah is Bukhara’s old Jewish quarter. Its main entrance is framed by an archway at Lyabi-hauz and leads into a lost world of winding alleys and clay houses. The ancient buildings of the Mahallah, with their exquisitely carved wooden doors, look like something from an Arabian Nights film set, but they were home to generations of Bukharan Jews. Your private guide will point out dozens of special features and historical details that will bring the Mahallah to life.
There used to be seven – some say more – synagogues in Bukhara, today two survive. The Bukhara Synagogue is one of the most important Jewish historical sites in Uzbekistan. The 300 year old temple is located near the Lyabi-hauz and is built in a typical Persian/Bukharan style with a dome, archways and intricate carvings. The interior is simple, but beautifully decorated and still attracts a core of regular Sephardic worshipers. If you’re lucky enough to be there during a Jewish holiday, it may be possible to join the services.
Bukhara has a small but extremely interesting Jewish museum, located in a 450 year old section of a hotel building. The Old Jewish House and Gallery has a collection of Jewish artifacts and offers an amazing glimpse of ordinary life for Bukhara’s Jews in previous centuries. Gil Travel can arrange a private guided tour of the museum. The tour can be extended to include a visit to the old Jewish cemetery.
The city of Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan – was home to Uzbekistan’s largest Jewish community. The Ashkenazi synagogue is associated with the local Chabad and extends a warm welcome to visitors. It’s a great place to meet local Jews and is one of Central Asia’s kosher travel destinations. A guided tour of the synagogue can include private talks and lectures, as well as some tasty Uzbek food courtesy of the Tashkent Jewish Community Center.
Tashkent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also contains many of Uzbekistan’s Jewish heritage sites. A customized tour of the city will combine the best of its museums and galleries, with any of its historical and architectural treasures that spark your interest, as well as a detailed exploration of the Jewish Quarter. A walking tour can take in the Choral Synagogue, built in 1866 and the Tero Synagogue, plus an option to visit the city’s two Jewish cemeteries. There are plenty of opportunities to experience more Jewish culture and Uzbek Jewish traditions, including folk dancing and food and wine tasting.
Experiencing Modern Uzbek Jewish Life and Traditions
The modern Uzbek Jewish community is small, but surprisingly vibrant. The Uzbeki government guarantees freedom of religion for all of the country’s 130 ethnicities (Uzbekistan is a serious melting pot) and anti-Semitism is not a problem. US Jews who visit the country can expect a friendly and hospitable welcome. The Jewish community itself is particularly welcoming and is proud of its unique Uzbek Jewish traditions.
One drawback is that although the younger urban generation is better educated, English is not spoken universally in Uzbekistan. Gil Travel can arrange for English speaking guides to smooth the way when you meet local people. The Jewish community centers organize all kinds of cultural events and Gil Travel will update you about any musical, literary or other cultural activities that are taking place during your trip.
The best time to visit Uzbekistan is during the spring or autumn – for the simple reason that summer is brutally hot and winter is bitterly cold. Passover, Shavuot and Rosh Hashanah usually fall within the travel seasons. If you’re in Uzbekistan for the holidays, you’re in for a culinary treat. It’s a great time to meet the locals and enjoy some genuine Jewish Uzbek cuisine.
Most people don’t associate Uzbekistan with luxury goods and high end shopping, but it’s a world center for silk and wool carpets. Khiva tiles, wood carvings, ceramics, other traditional crafts and luxury furniture and antiques are all available. If you want to do some luxury shopping, it’s possible to bypass the bazaars (although they are a lot of fun) and arrange private viewings or guided shopping tours with private transport.
Plan a Custom Tour of Jewish Historical Sites in Uzbekistan
Gil Travel will arrange a customized private tour of Uzbekistan with a range of kosher-friendly travel options. Your tailored itinerary will include tours of some of the most memorable Jewish landmarks in Central Asia, and introductions to interesting people in the local Jewish communities. Uzbekistan is perceived as a remote and exotic location, and many American Jews only have a vague notion of where the country actually is. That’s a pity because it’s a wonderfully welcoming and friendly place – and a treasure trove of splendid historical architecture.
Uzbekistan also has its own ancient Bukharin Jewish heritage and gave the wider Jewish people one of their most distinctive and fascinating communities. Uzbekistan’s past is directly entwined with the great adventure of the Silk Road, and the trading caravans that navigated its deserts and mountains. The winding streets of the Jewish quarters and the spectacular mosques, madrassas, caravanserais and bazaars bring that romantic past to life!
Talk to Gil Travel today about your trip to Uzbekistan and we’ll help you to create a tailored itinerary for your family or tour group that combines luxury travel, kosher dining and the chance to experience an ancient Jewish culture.
