The Jerusalem Post: Uzbekistan: Warm welcomes and Jewish communities on the Silk Road

January, 5, this year one of the oldest and largest English-language daily newspapers in Israel, The Jerusalem Post, published  an article about the rich tourism potential of Uzbekistan.

"There are some 130 ethnicities represented in Uzbekistan today. The faces are European, Near Eastern, Central Asian, Iranian and Far Eastern, and come in many other shapes and shades. But, everywhere you go, Uzbeks share a desire to welcome visitors and yes, that includes Jews and Israelis. A warm smile and a hand placed over the heart are guaranteed everywhere."- the author notes.

The publication also writes that Uzbekistan is open to tourism and seeks to expand its reach. Uzbekistan Airways already regularly operates flights between Tel Aviv and Tashkent, and now Uzbek tour operator Air Marakanda, the company managing the new airport in historic Samarkand, is negotiating to accept direct flights from Israel.

To the question: "What is Uzbekistan like?- the authors answer – The country comprises a dozen provinces and the Republic of Karakalpakstan with some 36 million citizens. Traveling between the major tourist hubs is easy. The Afrosiyob bullet train is comfortable and serves great coffee.

The authors of the article mentioned the largest business events, including the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, held in September 2022, the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States - in November 2022, the Tashkent International Tourism Fair - in December last year.

The Tashkent International Tourism Fair gave all regions of the country the opportunity to showcase their sights, heritage and culture. The event filled three exhibition halls and attracted visitors from all over Central Asia and beyond.

Although Islam is considered the main religion in the country (94%), urban life here is very interesting and diverse. Most women don't cover their hair, but many men wear a variety of hats from different regions, more cultural than religious. There is a lot to offer visitors, prices are mostly very affordable, a large selection of accommodation facilities and incredible historical attractions, including one of the world's most significant observatories of the early 15th century, the Prophet Daniel’s burial site and Khiva, which will be the tourist capital of the Islamic world in 2024.

Two Jewish communities coexist in Uzbekistan: the more religious and traditional Bukhara and Ashkenazi, which developed during the Soviet period. At the same time, Bukhara Jews are considered indigenous residents of Uzbekistan. They speak a special Tajik-Jewish dialect, the roots of which go back far into the past.

The vast majority of Jews live in Tashkent, about 3,000 people, there are also small communities in the tourist centers of Samarkand and Bukhara.

There are 2 synagogues in Bukhara (XVI, XVII - XIX centuries) – one of them is located near the Lyabi-House complex.

In Samarkand, members of local communities attend Sabbath services, which is about 16 - 17 people, and on Jewish holy days this number increases to several dozen in the Gumbaz dome synagogue – one of two in the city. The building is located on a narrow street in a residential area. At one time, the Uzbek Jewish community received hundreds of Europeans fleeing the Holocaust. Nowadays, most Jews have left the city for Israel and the United States.

"But above all else, it has some of the friendliest, most helpful people on the planet, starting with the country’s Ambassador to Israel Feruza Makhmudova, who sees it as her personal mission to encourage Israelis to visit her homeland…"- the Israeli edition notes.

Leave a comment

In order to leave a comment, you must log in through social networks:


By logging in, you agree to the processing personal data