Jewish national cultural center of Uzbekistan

The Republic of Uzbekistan has long been home to a Jewish community consisting of two ethnic branches: Ashkenazi (European Jews) and Sephardic (Bukharian) Jews.<img src="https://web.interkomitet.uz/uploads/culture-center-info/65d5bad4a9cff.png" alt="65d5bad4a9cff.png" /> The first Jewish cultural centers were created in 1989: the Jewish Cultural Center of Tashkent (now the Jewish Community Cultural Center) and the Republican Bukharian-Jewish Cultural Center under the Uzbekistan branch of the Culture Fund (now the Bukharian-Jewish Cultural Center “Simkho” of Tashkent). Today, there are seven Jewish national cultural centers in Uzbekistan: two in Tashkent, one each in Bukhara, Navoi, Fergana and Samarkand. The Jewish National Cultural Center of Uzbekistan has been operating in the capital since 1997. Preserving and developing their traditions, customs, language, centers conduct a variety of cultural, educational and social programs, celebrate state and national holidays. Creative groups are working fruitfully: at the Jewish National Cultural Center of Uzbekistan - the folklore and dance ensemble "Shalom, Tashkent", clubs - "You are not alone", "Parents of children with disabilities", "Looking for you" - to help in finding relatives lost abroad , “Rahamim - Mercy” - to support all those in need. In Navoi there is an elders’ club, a children’s studio “Shemesh” - “Sun”, a volunteer group. In Tashkent there is a club “Today in the Country and the World”, and a series of lecture and concert programs “Crossroads” is dedicated to the work of writers, artists, musicians, whose destinies crossed at different times on Tashkent soil. There are clubs in Fergana: teaching traditions and rituals, preparing national dishes, handicrafts, folk dancing and vocals, in which representatives of different nationalities participate. In Samarkand there is a cultural and educational program “Warm Home”. Among the main attractions of Bukhara are a specialized school for the study of Hebrew, a synagogue, the cultural center of Bukharian Jews “Shalom” and the charitable center “Amaayan”. These are the strongholds of the existence of the local close-knit community of Bukharian Jews, one of the oldest in the world since the time of the Great Silk Road. In all centers, heroes of the day are honored, folk art exhibitions are held, meetings with poets, writers, artists of their nationality, performances by children's and youth groups - this is how continuity is maintained and love and respect for the experience of the past is passed on from generation to generation. On national holidays - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Tu Bishvat, Purim, Shavuot, Passover - carefully preserved folk costumes and paraphernalia are used, and traditional Jewish cuisine is promoted.

The Republic of Uzbekistan has long been home to a Jewish community consisting of two ethnic branches: Ashkenazi (European Jews) and Sephardic (Bukharian) Jews.