Comments on: A Damned Shame

By: tajikistan.neweurasia.net » Blog Archive » Shul Destruction

tajikistan.neweurasia.net » Blog Archive » Shul Destruction — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 16:42:42 +0000

[...] Democracy in Central Asia and Registan (plus a discussion) have the full scoop. [...]

By: Democracy in Central Asia :: :: March :: 2006

Democracy in Central Asia :: :: March :: 2006 — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 05:08:31 +0000

[...] As reported on Registan (previously here and here) and widely blogged about, in order to build him a new palace, Rakhmonov’s authorities have begun the demolition of Tajikistan’s only synagogue. While the country is not, as several blogs indelicately put it, “Jew free, the incident represents a shameful example of Rakhmonov’s pettiness. The synagogue belongs to the Bukharan Jewish community, one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities and quite distinct from the Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Its 280 members are mostly elderly and poor and have no way of paying for a synagogue.As was suggested, the worldwide Jewish community has begun to respond – but it may be a case of too little, too late. AJC has called on the government to stop the demolition. The Sephardic Leadership Council has released a strong statement (which upped the ante from its earlier ‘dismay‘) condemning the move and comparing the eviction to the bombing of the Al Askari Mosque. While the demolition is both illegal and a violation of religious freedom, I would not go as far as applying the ‘terrorism’ label. While perhaps the instigators of both may have had the same pair of motives – fear and intimidation – there is a big difference between an anonymous group and a government which can be shamed and (hopefully) pressured to reverse its action. Comments » [...]

By: jodi

jodi — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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…

By: upyernoz

upyernoz — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

hey nathan, did you ever read “dictionary of the khazars”? i think its by a serbian author.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I just ordered it. The female version I think. It sounds interesting.

By: Israpundit

Israpundit — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Evicting Tajikistan’s Lone Synagogue
Place this one in the “tolerance for other religions” category… Meryl Yourish notes that the Tajikstan has ordered the local Jewish community to vacate the city’s only remaining synagogue by July to clear the site for construction of a new…