The Jews of the Silk Roads: A Two-Millennium Culture in Central Asia

For 23 years, MIZVADA, a specialist in Jewish cultural travel, has been highlighting little-known heritages around the world. Among them, the community of Bukharan Jews in Uzbekistan holds a special place, the result of a two-thousand-year history at the crossroads of Persian, Sephardic, and Muslim worlds. The Jewish-Alsatian Museum in Bouxwiller, north of Strasbourg, hosts a new exhibition dedicated to this unique Jewish civilization. Through a rich and varied journey, the public is invited to discover the many facets of the life of the Bukharan Jews, from their origins to the contemporary era. The exhibition traces the history of the communities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent, as well as their sheltering of Jewish refugees and children during World War II. It also explores their ties with the Sephardic world, their coexistence with Muslim populations, and the challenges faced during the Soviet period, between migrations and identity preservation. Visitors can also immerse themselves in traditional cuisine, the scents of spices, and recipes passed down through generations, as well as in dances and music, including the famous shashmaqam. Family customs, festivals, clothing, and rituals are also presented, along with crafts and trade, fields in which the Bukharan Jews excelled. Finally, the exhibition addresses the issue of the Tshalas, Muslims of Jewish origin, testimonies of complex and often little-known histories. Through objects, photographs, testimonies, historical documents, and artisanal creations, this sensitive immersion reveals a culture where spirituality, traditions, and multiple influences blend harmoniously.