2005 CE: BUKHARIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Fall: Rosh Hashonah: Jewish New Year: Forest Hills/Rego Park, Queens, NY: The new Western Hemisphere locus of the Bukharian Jews in Queens opens its first “congress” conclave.

The Bukharian Jews of Central Asia were essentially cut off from the rest of the Jewish world for over 2,000 years, but somehow managed to retain their identity, Jewish heritage, unique traditions and cohesiveness intact for the two millennia.

Worldwide population distribution of the Bukharian is currently as follows:

Total population: approx. 150,000–200,000
Israel 100,000–120,000
United States 50,000–60,000
European Union 5,000–10,000
Uzbekistan 100–1,000
Tajikistan 50–100