Jewish Samarkand | World Jewish Travel

Jewish city story of Samarkand

Introduction to Jewish Samarkand

Samarkand, a city located in Uzbekistan on the ancient Silk Road, has been home to Jewish people for centuries. Its rich and diverse history is deeply intertwined with its vibrant Jewish culture, which can still be seen today in its architecture, synagogues, mosques, mausoleums and monuments dedicated to famous figures from Samarkand's past. This article will explore how Jews have shaped this city over time and what it means to experience modern-day Jewish life in Samarkand. It will also provide an overview of places of cultural and religious importance for those wishing to discover this unique part of Central Asia’s history as well as introduce some of the famous Jewish figures who lived or died there.

Jewish Culture and History in Samarkand

Early Jewish Life in Samarkand

When Timur-Leng, the Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran,...

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Mizrahi and Sephardi Jewish Tour of Uzbekistan

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Oybek Ostanov

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Emir Han Hotel

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Old City

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אתרים מומלצים Sites to see

Sites

House of Kalontar

After the conquest of Samarkand by Russia (1868), the situation of the Jews changed for the better. A very curious fragment is found in one of the Russian editions of 1870 (published with the author’s notes): “The Jews occupy a special quarter in the north-eastern part of the city. The Jews here are not European. They are neat in clothes, and in life they are meek and hospitable. Under the emirs, they were oppressed and annually paid huge fees for the right to live in Samarkand. Between them is remarkable their old aksakal (old-timer) and kalontar (head of the community) with the name of the prophet Moses (Moshe) - an honest person and generally worthy of respect for the mind and influence on their co-religionists. It has a considerable fortune, a large and beautiful family, several houses and gardens. When in 1868 a gang of Kenegeses took him away and beat him half to death to protect the old man from new insults, several Samarkand citizens wrapped a turban on his head - a cloak forbidden to Jews, and brought him home. Calontar is now 55 years old. In his youth, he traveled to Western Europe and Palestine. In Samarkand he built a synagogue and a school, and therefore, I believe, some call him a rabbi. Although, in our opinion, he is just aksakal".

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Tomb of Daniel at Samarkand

Five domes adorn the long structure that holds an 18m long sarcophagus, reputedly holding the remains of the Old Testament prophet Daniel, revered by Muslims, Jews and Christians alike – although only Christians regard him as a prophet. This is not the only place that claims to be the final resting place of Daniel. The most widely accepted of these places is in Susa, Iran. Even beyond Uzbekistan and Iran, a couple of cities in Iraq also lay claim to be the final resting place of Daniel – which, since the Bible places Daniel in Babylon, in modern day Iraq, at the time of his death, is not too far-fetched either. Samarkand seems to be the odd one among the places, that argue to be the real final resting place of Daniel. As legend has it, Timur (Tamerlane) tried to conquer modern day Syria, but successively failed – apparently because the body of Daniel was preventing his success. When he finally succeeded, it is claimed, that he ordered the body to be buried at Samarkand for good luck. Immediately after he was buried, a natural spring started to sprout, which, naturally, is regarded to have healing powers. But local lore goes even further, stating that the body of Daniel was continually growing at a rate of around 5cm a year. If this was true, the body of Daniel would by now have a length of more than 125m, rather than “just“ 18m, since he died approximately 2500 years ago. However the truth behind the corpse’s growth is that Timur was paranoid about grave robbers and extended the grave to make it harder for potential robbers to pillage the bones.

Sites

Samarkand Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish cemetery in Samarkand is a well-kept cultural site with a long and fascinating history. You can search all graves on an organized website and find the beautifully engraged tombstones that take you through a journey of the local community. Image attribution: Akhemen, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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Tours of Samarkand

Tours

Mizrahi and Sephardi Jewish Tour of Uzbekistan

A birds of a feather program for Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews.

Tours

Uzbekistan tour from Israel. Great Silk Roads

If you travel around Uzbekistan in search of treasures, you will definitely find them there. Silk carpets in ancient times decorated only the palaces of the rulers and were just one of the many popular goods of the Silk Road. Now you can not only buy them from artisans but also understand the painstaking manufacturing technology – this opportunity is waiting for you in Samarkand.

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Jewish Tour Across Uzbekistan

Traveling in major tourist cities of Uzbekistan. The Bukharian Jewish Community still counts more than 50 families. Their ancestor's contribution to the arts, the music, the crafts, the textiles which made Bukhara at one time the mysterious and coveted destination of many a tradesman and adventurer cannot be stressed sufficiently. Tour package consists of historical components and Jewish monuments, best 8 day tour package for visiting the memorial complexes of Khiva – open air museum, legendary Samarkand - visit the Synagogue and other monuments, holy Bukhara - visit the Synagogue, the Jewish school and other monuments, homeland of Amir Temur (Tamerlan) – Shahrisabz and Tashkent.

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי JEWISH STYLE RESTAURANTS

Restaurants

Old City

Central Asian Cuisine. one of the most famous halal oriental restaurants in the city. It prepares its dishes using the best fresh ingredients and authentic oriental methods. Among the dishes offered by the restaurant there are chicken with cashews, kebabs, goat meat with honey and walnuts, and others. This restaurant is also characterized by its beautiful decorations that make the environment of the place comfortable and suitable for meetings with friends and families.

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Oybek Ostanov

Certifies Travel Guide and Tour Operator in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

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World Jewish Travel Official February 17, 2024

Discovering a Timeless Legacy: The Story Behind Jewish Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Introduction to Jewish Samarkand Samarkand, a city located in Uzbekistan on the ancient Silk Road, has been home to Jewish people for centuries. Its rich and diverse history is deeply intertwined with its vibrant Jewish culture, which can still be seen today in its architecture, synagogues, mosques, mausoleums and monuments dedicated to famous figures from Samarkand's past. This article will explore how Jews have shaped this city over time and what it means to experience modern-day Jewish life in Samarkand. It will also provide an overview of places of cultural and religious importance for those wishing to discover this unique part of Central Asia’s history as well as introduce some of the famous Jewish figures who lived or died there.

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Hotels in Samarkand

Hotels

Emir Han Hotel

Emir Han Hotel is located in Samarkand, within walking distance of the bus station and a short drive from the train station and airport. The hotel offers a restaurant, free WiFi, and private parking. Rooms are air-conditioned, decorated in bright colors, and feature a flat-screen TV and private bathroom with a hairdryer and toiletries. Guests can also take advantage of the 24-hour front desk and garden on-site.

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