The Communist movement among the Jews of Bukhara is of insignificant proportions and of a rather comical nature. The figures of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party show that in the entire region there are 113 Jewish Communists, most of them artisans, who thus far maintain their religion and go to synagogue every Saturday despite the fact that they are members of the Communist Party.
Communism is somewhat stronger among the Jewish youth, 800 young Jews being members of the Communist youth section. They maintain their own clubs, dramatic circles and sport groups, three of which occupy converted synagogues. Over a thousand Jewish children belong to the children’s Communist organization, the Pioneers.
A considerable number of Jews belong to the Soviets although they are not party members. They believe in the Soviet’s power and are sure that the political status of the Jews of Bukhara is considerably better now than under the Emir who ruled them in Czarist times.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
