The Untold Story of the Bukharan Neighborhood

We're all familiar with the Bukharan neighborhood, but what's its history? Weren't they from the state of Bukhara?

Actually, there's no country called Bukhara. Bukhara is a city in Uzbekistan. So, Bukharans are essentially Uzbeks, and most Bukharan Jews originate from Samarkand, a nearby city, not Bukhara itself.

Samarkand is the third-largest city in Uzbekistan. It existed during Alexander the Great's conquest in 329 on his way to India. Later, it was conquered by Persians and then Mongols. For centuries, the Timurid dynasty ruled it, calling it "the Timurid Empire."

Jews have lived in Samarkand since ancient times. Their tradition claims descent from the Ten Lost Tribes, and modern genetic testing supports this. However, about two hundred years ago, a Spanish emissary convinced them to adopt Sephardic Jewish customs, which most did.

For many years, Bukharan Jews lived under Muslim rule, enduring laws that required Jews to be inferior. However, in 1865, 160 years ago, Muslim kingdoms in Uzbekistan rebelled against Czar Alexander II. Alexander decided to suppress them with force. He sent General Konstantin von Kaufman, a renowned conqueror who extended the Russian Empire's borders to Afghanistan, China, and Persia.

On May 1, 1868, General Konstantin led the Russian army into Samarkand. After a brief cannon bombardment, the city leaders surrendered to the Russian army, which then entered the Samarkand fortress. A delegation of Jewish sages, led by Moshe Kalantar, known in Samarkand as "the President" due to his wisdom, approached to pledge their support to the Russian army, wisely foreseeing that Muslims would seek revenge on the Jews. Organizing a group of Jews led by "Chaim the Philosopher," they advised the Russians on fortress defenses, planning and digging trenches and fortifications. The Russians didn't understand why, given Samarkand's Arab surrender.

General Konstantin von Kaufman left a garrison of 650 soldiers in the fortress, along with two small mortars, six cannons, and some sick and wounded. Then, on June 1, 1868, Jews informed them: the Muslims plan to attack. The Russians couldn't believe the weak and ignorant Arabs would revolt against the revered Russian army after surrendering. Yet a steady stream of Jews sought refuge in the fortress as allies of the Russians.

The Russians refused to believe until June 2, when Moshe Kalantar, the "President," convinced them the danger was real; Jews knew what they said. The Russian garrison fortified positions with Jewish-prepared defenses, learning Jews' information. That day, the Russian garrison faced 55,000 besieging men. Jews in the fortress also fought for their lives, knowing defeat meant their end. Familiar with the city and its people, they aided the Russians greatly. Women tended the wounded, supplied water, and assisted defensively.

General Konstantin was engaged in battles near the Boulaq arena, defeating the Bukharans, unaware of the nearby crisis. The garrison commander refused to send a messenger, fearing Muslims would capture and torture them for information. Russians wanted to hide their weakness from Muslims.

The siege lasted seven days until General Konstantin returned to Samarkand. Astonishingly, he found rebels besieging and assaulting the fortress. His artillery decimated thousands, including the entire city, ordering his soldiers to burn all and kill residents. At the last moment, Moshe Kalantar pleaded for Jewish lives allied with the Russians. The general agreed, adding no harm to Jews. But how could soldiers distinguish Jews? Easterners all looked similar to them. Rabbi Moshe stood on a table, raised his *tzitzit* above his head and said: "Like this – do not touch," identifying wearers as Jews per the general's orders.

A horrific massacre ensued against Samarkand traitors to the Russians, but Jews were spared. Moshe Kalantar received a special honor from Czar Alexander, while the Jewish community enjoyed specific rights from the czar. Yet, with the new settlement in Israel, Bukharan Jews preferred to immigrate. In 1884, Rabbi Shlomo Moussaieff and Rabbi Yosef Koghanov moved to Jerusalem, founding the "Rechovot" neighborhood, later called the Bukharan neighborhood. Israeli, Ze'ev Yavetz, describes: "Recently, many of our brothers from Bukhara have arrived, industrious in trade, wealthy, and engaged in finances... among them are scholars and reverent, of noble spirit and manners. Some even love Hebrew and science."

The neighborhood became central in Jerusalem economically, with the Bukharan market and businesses founded by industrious Bukharan immigrants, and spiritually, with the Moussaieff Synagogue a hub for years. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, ztz"l, taught his weekly lesson there, as did many other Torah leaders. The great kabbalist Rabbi Kaduri, ztz"l, the illustrious Ades family, and earlier Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer, author of "Kaf HaChaim," lived there.

Today, most Bukharan Jews live in Israel. A few dozen Jews and an active synagogue remain in Samarkand. Kalantar's family, descendants of wise Moshe Kalantar, immigrated too, with one serving in the early Knesset years.