The first Shabbat of Spring 2015 will be a Bukharian-themed Shabbat, with special foods prepared by Ben I’s mother and grandmother – so this will be authentic, to the extent possible! We even special-ordered a big Khazan pot, old-school big thick pot to slow-cook the rice for the classic Plov dish.
Bukhara is in Uzbekistan in Russian Central Asia, an area with strong Persian influences. Simply put: Bukharian Jews are like Jewish Persian Russians. When the Jews first left Bukhara proper they settled in nearby Tashkent and Samarkand. Later many emigrated to Israel and America.
There is a long rich history of Jews in that region, some say dating as far back to the times of the first Jerusalem Temple. Most Bukharian Jews have since emigrated to Israel and America, especially Forest Hills and Rego Park in Queens, but many kept their Bukharian traditions and flavors. You may have seen the Bukharian Kippah, a large colorfully embroidered hat, or eaten “Plov” which is their signature slow-cooked rice dish cooked in a thick Khazan pot with shredded carrots and (lamb) meat.
Lev Leviev is a Bukharian Jew from Tashkent who became a billionaire and supports many Jewish causes most notably the Ohr Avner Jewish School system in the former Soviet Union in memory of his father. Raizy’s father, Rabbi Galperin was born and raised in Tashkent among many Bukharian Jews. Although his family were WWII refugees from the west of Russia and not Bukharian Jews themselves, he grew up in that community.
Here’s a chabad.org link to “Atem Shalom” a Bukharian Hebrew song that a ninety-one year old Bukharian Jew, Reb Refoel Chudaitov (who was tirelessly dedicated to the spiritual and physical needs of others) sang at the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s farbrengen on Purim 1973. On Friday Night Rabbi Mendel will sing the stanzas, as Reb Refoel did, and we will try to get everyone to learn and sing the chorus.
Of course, it will be Shabbos as usual, with “Law and Order” class at 6pm, Prayers at 6:15pm, Dinner at 7pm. All are welcome: no dress-code, or RSVP necessary. It goes without saying that there’s no need to be Bukharian to enjoy!