Just a Brief History of my heritage and where I come from.

Bukharian Jews are Sephardi Jews who came from Egypt and settled in the Emirate of Bukhara. In the modern day it is comprised of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Smaller groups resided in Kazakhstan, Russia and other parts of Soviet Union. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1992, huge migrations began. Two primary destinations were Israel and the United States.

The migration was just the beginning of a new life in a new world. Expression of self was allowed for the first time, and many took it upon themselves to submerge into the practice of their culture freely and openly, which wasn’t condoned for so many, many years. With this new liberation came a new shock wave.

How do we teach children about our culture? Those who could afford sent their children to private schools – yeshivas. But what about children who went to public schools? How do we keep the traditions alive when they are bombarded with so many new things each day? Their friends are no longer just Russkie (Russians who speak Russian) or Uzbek. They have friends who are American, Spanish, Italian, Indian, Ashkenazi Jews and many other cultures. And that television, how can they be showing sex on TV and talking about it so openly??

Parents at that time, where too busy working and learning the new language and coping with living in NYC. Though I come from a city, it was still an adjustment. Tashkent would be suburbia in comparison to NYC. Many families lived as they did before, with two generations in one apartment. Back in Soviet Union, many had land and houses. Living two maybe three generations in one household would be all right since there was plenty of space. Not the case, when you live in apartments.

Bukharians are a very tight-knit community and we like to be private. So I will try to respect as much of my culture as I can, but I also think its time to open up. I see how children try to find themselves and they have nobody to turn to. And though I am not a saint, or a perfect example to be followed, I’m real and I have had many experiences (good & bad) that may help someone. And in turn maybe I can help myself, and see where I stand in this grand scheme of life.

Historical background of the Bukharian Jews
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukharian_Jew

A basic fast version of the history of Bukharian people
www.americansephardifederation.org/PDF/exhibitions/remembering_old_bukhara.pdf