Step into the bustling, spice-scented alleyways of ancient Bukhara, where Jewish merchants and caravan masters shaped the pulse of trans-Eurasian trade for over a thousand years. Far from being mere bystanders, they financed trade routes, carried goods between China and the West, and established enduring communities between desert sands and turquoise domes. From ancient emirs to modern world capitals, their rich music, breathtaking feasts, and colorful customs thrive, while the historic mahallas of Uzbekistan are growing empty. Join me for an unforgettable two-part journey into one of the most remarkable and proud chapters of our heritage.

Together, we will go behind the humble mud-brick walls into the magnificent courtyard mansions of the merchant elite. We will discover how Jewish families preserved their identity under strict Islamic rule, how women navigated life veiled in horsehair paranjas, and how local trade dynasties became cotton tycoons and international financiers under the Russian Empire. We will see how this community stubbornly kept traditions and clandestine synagogues alive through Soviet persecution, leading up to the dramatic mass exodus of 1990–1991 that scattered this ancient world across the globe.

October 13, Tuesday

Part 1: In the Shadow of the Emir - Caravans, Faith and Opulent Homes

• Lords of the Trade Routes: The deep history of Jewish merchants on the Silk Road and how they forged indispensable trade networks across empires.

• Life in the Mahalla: The delicate balance of life under Islamic law, vibrant craftsmanship, and the hidden courtyards of Bukhara.

• Behind the Horsehair Veil: The world of Bukharian Jewish women - from the heavy paranja worn in public to the dazzling silk and gold-embroidered gowns celebrated at home.

• Unbroken Spirit: Secret home synagogues, hand-illuminated manuscripts, and the dramatic 19th-century revival brought by an emissary from the Holy Land.

October 15, Thursday

Part 2: Cotton Kings, Soviet Defiance, and the Great Exodus

• The Rise of the Tycoons: How the Russian expansion catapulted Jewish merchants from restricted subjects to industrial pioneers building palaces in Samarkand.

• Outsmarting the Soviets: Clandestine minyans, underground kosher networks, and the fierce family loyalty that preserved Judaism behind locked doors.

• The 1990 Exodus: The sudden unraveling of the Soviet Union, the painful farewell to ancestral homes, and the rebirth of Bukharan life in New York, Israel, and Europe.

Whether you have personal ties to Central Asia or are simply curious to uncover a magnificent, lesser-known chapter of our history, I would love for you to join me. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and let’s explore the marvels of the Silk Road together.
(Can’t join live? A full recording will be sent to all registered participants.)