The Jewish population of Old Buchara has been reduced to half of what it was before the Soviets came into power. This is shown by an investigation of the Moscow correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency now visiting the country for a study of the life and customs of the Bucharian Jews.
In Old Buchara itself where before the Revolution the Jews numbered 8,000 they are now reduced to 2,000. In the entire Samarkand district where the number of Jews was once very large there are now only 15,000 and in the Tashkent district but 3,000, while throughout Buchara there are 45,000 Jews left.
When the Soviet regime came into control of Russia it abolished all of the restrictions against the Jews of Buchara, restrictions which had existed for centuries. Under the Czar the Jews were compelled to wear rope belts over their clothes when in the streets, were prohibited from riding within the towns and were segregated in separate quarters.
While the Jewish population is now satisfied with the political and human emancipation that the Soviets brought the difficult economic situation has seriously affected them. The majority of the Jews, once wealthy traders, are now ruined by the abolition of private trade. Although the bulk of the Buchara Jews fled to Persia and Afghanistan after the Revolution the poorest of them have remained.
Most of them lead a hand to mouth existence, earning less than the minimum necessary which is estimated at forty roubles a month. Their occupations are chiefly hatters, tailors and silk weavers, trades that offer small opportunities for earning.
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.
