Tajikistan’s only synagogue is being demolished to make way for a presidential palace:
The government has ordered the Jews out of the Dushanbe synagogue by the end of July so it can be demolished with the surrounding neighborhood. The plain, white building where Jews say they have worshipped for more than a century is to be replaced by a “Palace of Nations” complex that will serve as Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov’s office.The city has offered several plots on the outskirts of Dushanbe for a new synagogue, but it refuses to compensate for the loss of the building, insisting state funds can’t be used for religious institutions.
Eminent domain without compensation. Great.
I’m tempted to quote more, but just read the rest. While so many of Central Asia’s Jews, including the “Bukharan” Jews who have lived there for one helluva long time, have left, those who have stayed have demonstrated incredible determination to preserving what is left of their traditions and communities. It’s nice that some businesspeople in Bukhara have taken to restoring Jewish architecture, but it’s not quite the same.
Here’s a variety of links on the Jews of Central Asia:
Bukharan Jews
Jewish history of Uzbekistan
An excellent site devoted to Khazaria, the Turkic Jewish kingdom now located in Russia
As far as restored Jewish architecture goes, check out Emir Bed & Breakfast, which is run by a wonderful woman. This business and the website received a boatload of aid and support from a couple of Peace Corps Volunteers. I stayed in this room.
This post was written by...
Nathan Hamm – author of 2973 posts on Registan.net.
Nathan is the Founding Editor and Publisher of Registan.net, which he launched in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with private and government clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural and political factors shape risks and opportunities and how organizations can adjust their strategic and operational plans to account for these variables. Nathan is currently seeking research, analysis, and consulting opportunities. He can be contacted via Twitter or email.
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{ 4 comments }
hey thanks for posting those links on jews in central asia. i haven’t had a chance to check the sites out but i certainly will soon. i was always wondering about the jewish populations in that part of the world.
I didn’t link it (for some reason…), but you should also check out the Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire.
I’m particularly intrigued by the Mountain Jews, who may be descendents of the Khazars. Why do they interest me? I grew up in the hills of Southern Douglas County in Oregon–”hillbilly” country, if you will. My best friend, and college roommate, was one of the few (very few) practicing Jews in town (and the one who made me and “honorary Jew, with some rights of the International Zionist Conspiracy”). He considered himself part of a unique group of Jews, the “Jewbillies”–rip-roaring, cowboy-boot wearin’, tattoo-havin’, bourbon-drinkin’ Jews of the hills. I now think I know where he came from way back…
hey nathan, did you ever read “dictionary of the khazars”? i think its by a serbian author.
I just ordered it. The female version I think. It sounds interesting.