SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan — For centuries, Bukharian Jews helped shape the cultural and commercial life of Samarkand. Now, a new Israeli-funded research initiative aims to document their history and contributions to the ancient Silk Road city.
The Embassy of Israel in Uzbekistan has signed a grant agreement with Samarkand State University to support research into the history and cultural heritage of the city’s Jewish community.
The grant, awarded to the university’s Department of History, will fund research examining the community’s historical development, its contributions to Samarkand’s social, economic and cultural life, and its ties to Israel.
Samarkand has been a major center of Bukharian Jewish life for centuries, with its Jewish community playing an important role in the city’s multicultural heritage.
At the signing ceremony in September, Israeli Ambassador to Uzbekistan Gideon Lustig emphasized the importance of preserving Jewish history in Uzbekistan and praised the work of local scholars.
Samarkand State University Rector Rustam Khalmuradov welcomed the initiative, highlighting the value of archival research and expanded cooperation between Uzbek and Israeli academic institutions.
The project aims to document and preserve Samarkand’s Jewish heritage while making its history more accessible to scholars, students and the public.
By Erin Levi