The Bukharan Jews

Discover the rich history, culture, cuisine, and notable figures of Bukharan Jews in this comprehensive 2500-word article.
The Bukharan Jews
[Source photo:The Bukharan Jews]

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Bukharan Jews: History, Communities Today, Culture, Religious Liturgy, Notable People and Accomplishments

Bukharan Jews are a unique Jewish community that originated in Central Asia and have a rich history, culture, and religious tradition. This article explores the history, present-day communities, cultural practices, religious liturgy, and notable figures and accomplishments of Bukharan Jews.

History

Bukharan Jews trace their origins to the ancient Jewish communities that settled in Central Asia along the Silk Road. Over time, they developed a distinct identity and culture that blended Jewish and Central Asian traditions. They spoke Bukhori, a dialect of Persian, and their cuisine and music were heavily influenced by local Central Asian flavors.

Throughout history, Bukharan Jews faced persecution and discrimination. In the 19th century, they were forced to pay extra taxes and were subjected to pogroms. During the Soviet era, their religious practices were restricted, and many were forced to abandon their faith. After the fall of the Soviet Union, many Bukharan Jews emigrated to Israel and the United States.

Communities Today

Today, there are approximately 50,000 Bukharan Jews living around the world, with significant populations in Israel, the United States, and Uzbekistan. The Bukharan Jewish community is tight-knit and deeply connected to their cultural and religious traditions.

In Israel, Bukharan Jews have created vibrant communities in cities like Jerusalem and Netanya. They have established their own synagogues and religious institutions, and their culture and cuisine have become an integral part of Israel’s diverse society.

In the United States, Bukharan Jews have settled in cities like New York and Los Angeles, where they have also established their own synagogues and community organizations. They have preserved their cultural practices through traditional celebrations like weddings and bar mitzvahs, where Bukharan music, dance, and food are prominent.

Culture

Bukharan Jews have a unique culture that reflects their Central Asian roots and their Jewish faith. Their cuisine is characterized by dishes like plov (a rice dish), shashlik (grilled meat skewers), and lagman (noodle soup). Bukharan music features instruments like the doira (a tambourine-like drum) and the sato (a stringed instrument), and is often accompanied by traditional Central Asian dance.

Bukharan Jews also have their own distinct wedding traditions, which include a week-long celebration and the traditional “Bukharan hat” that is worn by the groom. Bukharan Jewish women are known for their intricate embroidery work, which is often featured on traditional clothing like the chapan (a robe worn by men) and the Atlas (a headscarf worn by women).

Religious Liturgy

Bukharan Jews follow the Sephardic Jewish tradition and have their own unique liturgy and religious practices. Their synagogues are often ornately decorated with intricate tilework and calligraphy, and their prayer services feature traditional Bukharan melodies and chants.

Bukharan Jews also have their own distinct holiday traditions, such as the Purim Seudah, a festive meal that features traditional Bukharan dishes like plov and shashlik.

Bukharan Jews have a unique religious tradition that is distinct from other Jewish communities. They follow the Sephardic Jewish tradition, but also incorporate elements of local Central Asian culture into their religious practices. Bukharan Jews have their own liturgical language called Bukhori, which is a dialect of the Tajik language with many Hebrew and Aramaic loanwords.

Bukhori is used for prayer and religious ceremonies, and many Bukharan Jews also speak Russian and Hebrew. The Bukharan Jewish community has a rich history of producing prominent rabbis and religious leaders, and Bukharan Jews have made significant contributions to Jewish scholarship and religious practice.

Notable People and Accomplishments

Bukharan Jews have made significant contributions to fields like science, medicine, and the arts. Some notable figures include:

  • Emmanuel Mane-Katz: A renowned Jewish painter and artist who was born in Ukraine and spent much of his career in France. Mane-Katz is known for his colorful depictions of Jewish life and culture, and his work has been exhibited in major museums around the world.
  • Avraham Avinu: A prominent Bukharan rabbi and scholar who was known for his expertise in Jewish law and philosophy. Avraham Avinu wrote many important works on Jewish theology and ethics, and his teachings continue to influence Bukharan Jewish thought to this day.
  • Avraham Edelstein: A prominent Bukharan businessman who founded the Edelstein Trading Company, which became one of the largest textile importers in the Soviet Union. Edelstein was also a philanthropist who supported many charitable causes in the Bukharan Jewish community.
  • Bakhtiyor Jalolov: A Bukharan Jewish scientist and mathematician who has made important contributions to the field of probability theory. Jalolov’s work has been widely published in academic journals, and he has won numerous awards and accolades for his research.
  • Michael Beizer: A Bukharan Jewish musician and composer who is known for his innovative fusion of traditional Bukharan music with contemporary jazz and rock. Beizer has released several albums of original music and has performed at major venues around the world.

Conclusion

Bukharan Jews have a rich and vibrant history that spans thousands of years, and their culture and traditions are a testament to their resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout their history, Bukharan Jews have managed to preserve their unique identity and continue to make important contributions to Jewish and global society.

Resources

Mourner’s Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom), traditionally said by mourners––that is, those who have lost a parent during the previous eleven months or a child, sibling, or spuce during the last thirty days––and by those observing the anniversary of the death of those close relatives. (In many contemporary communities, the full congregation says it in support of the mourners, and in memory of the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust, assuming that at least one died on any given day.) The mourners Kaddish omits lines 7 and 8 of the Full Kaddish that asks God to answer our prayers, because presumably, God did not grant the mourner’s prayers that the relative recover and live).
אבל: יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
[קהל: אמן] בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא אבל: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [קהל: בריך הוא:] לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן] עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]

וְזֹ֖את הַתּוֹרָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ תּוֹרָ֥ה צִוָּה־לָ֖נוּ מֹשֶׁ֑ה מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה קְהִלַּ֥ת יַעֲקֹֽב׃ הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֢ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ אִמְרַֽת־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ׃

Before reading the Torah:
הַשֵּׁם עִמָּכֶם.
יְבָרֶכְךָ הַשֵּׁם.
 

 .בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ
.בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
.בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְנָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה:
 אמן.

After reading the Torah:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת, וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה:
אמן.

Beracha recited before the reading of the Haftara:

Mi Sheberach, the Jewish prayer for healing, is one of the most meaningful prayers in Judaism. It is a public prayer or blessing for an individual or group, most often recited in synagogue when the Torah is being read. 

He who blessed our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, may he heal ___ who is ill. May the Holy One, blessed be he, have mercy and speedily restore him to perfect health, both spiritual and physical; and let us say, Amen.

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וִירַפֵּא אֶת הַחוֹלֶה ___. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלָיו לְהַחֲלִימוֹ וּלְרַפֹּאתוֹ, לְהַחֲזִיקוֹ וּלְהַחֲיוֹתוֹ, וְיִשְׁלַח לוֹ מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה, רְפוּאַת הַנֶּֽפֶשׁ וּרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף; וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.

Tefilat HaDerech (Hebrew: תפילת הדרך), also known as the Traveler’s Prayer or Wayfarer’s Prayer in English, is a prayer for safe travel recited by Jews when traveling by air, sea, or long car trips. It is recited at the start of every journey, preferably standing, but this is not required. It is frequently inscribed on hamsas, which may also include the Shema or Birkat HaBayit prayer.

In the “Blessing of Thanksgiving” (Birkat HaGomel), persons in four different categories should express gratitude to God for His compassion toward them:
One who has done one of the following: a) traveled across the ocean (by an international flight, etc.); b) traversed the desert; c) recovered from a very serious illness; d) been released from prison.
All other potentially fatal circumstances that one escapes, such as a wall crumbling on him, an ox goring him, thieves, auto accidents, etc., fall under the category of desert.

The reader recites:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַגּוֹמֵל לְחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כָּל טוֹב.

 
The congregations responds:

מִי שֶׁגְמַלְךָ כֹּל טוֹב הוּא יִגְמַלְךָ כֹּל טוֹב סֶלָה.

NameSymbolSephardi
Sof passukב׃‎סוֹף פָּסֽוּק‎
Sof pasuk
Etnachtaב֑‎אַתְנָ֑ח‎
Atnaḥ
Segolב֒‎סְגוֹלְתָּא֒‎
Segolta
Shalsheletב֓‎שַׁלְשֶׁ֓לֶת‎
Šalšeleþ
Zakef katanב֔‎זָקֵף קָט֔וֹן‎
Záqéf Qáţown
Zakef gadolב֕‎זָקֵף גָּד֕וֹל‎
Záqéf Ggádowl
Tifchaב֖‎טַרְחָ֖א‎
Tarḥa
Riviaב֗‎רְבִ֗יע‎
Revia
Zarkaב֮‎זַרְקָא֮‎
Zarqa
Pashtaב֙‎קַדְמָא֙‎
Qadma
Shene pashtinב֨‎ב֙‎תְּרֵ֨י קַדְמִין֙‎
Tere qadmin
Yetivב֚‎יְ֚תִיב‎
Yetiv
Tevirב֛‎תְּבִ֛יר‎
Tviyr
Pazerב֡‎פָּזֶר גָּד֡וֹל‎
Pazer gadol
Qarne farahב֟‎קַרְנֵי פָרָ֟ה‎
Qarne farah
Telisha gedolaב֠‎תִּ֠רְצָה‎
Tirtzah
Gereshב֜‎גְּרִ֜ישׁ‎
Gerish
Gershayimב֞‎שְׁנֵי גְרִישִׁ֞ין‎
Shene gerishin
Munachב׀‎פָּסֵ֣ק׀‎
Paseq
Merchaב֥‎מַאֲרִ֥יךְ‎
Maarich
Munachב֣‎שׁוֹפָר הוֹלֵ֣ךְ‎
Shofar holech
Mahpachב֤‎‏(שׁוֹפָר) מְהֻפָּ֤ךְ‎
(Shofar) mehuppach
Dargaב֧‎דַּרְגָּ֧א‎
Ddarggá
Kadmaב֨‎אַזְלָ֨א or קַדְמָ֨א‎
Azla or Qadma[18]
Telisha ketanaב֩‎תַּלְשָׁא֩‎
Talsha
Mercha kefulaב֦‎תְּרֵי טַעֲמֵ֦י‎
Tere ta’ame
Yerach ben yomoב֪‎יֵרֶח בֶּן יוֹמ֪וֹ‎
Yeraḥ ben yomo

Spanish-Portuguese custom

זַרְקָא֮ מַקַּף־שׁוֹפָר־הוֹלֵ֣ךְ סְגוֹלְתָּא֒ פָּזֵר גָּד֡וֹל תַ֠לְשָׁא תִּ֩ילְשָׁא אַזְלָ֨א גֵּ֜רֵישׁ פָּסֵק  ׀  רָבִ֗יעַ שְׁנֵי־גֵרֵישִׁ֞ין דַּרְגָ֧א תְּבִ֛יר מַאֲרִ֥יךְ טַרְחָ֖א אַתְנָ֑ח שׁוֹפָר־מְהֻפָּ֤ךְ קַדְמָא֙ תְּרֵ֨י־קַדְמִין֙ זָקֵף־קָט֔וֹן זָקֵף־גָּד֕וֹל שַׁלְשֶׁ֓לֶת תְּרֵי־טַעֲמֵ֦י יְ֚תִיב סוֹף־פָּסֽוּק׃

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