The Complete Guide to a Kosher Trip to Tashkent

Tashkent is home to one of the world's oldest and most storied Bukharian Jewish communities - a distinctive Uzbek-Jewish tradition stretching back centuries along the Silk Road, with a network of synagogues and Chabad centers around the Old City. Here's a short guide to planning your visit.

Two communities, one network of centers

A Chabad center serving Uzbekistan and all of Central Asia operates alongside two additional community centers in the city - the Bukharian Jewish Community and the Jewish Community of Tashkent (Ashkenazi) - reflecting the two distinct Jewish traditions that developed in the region along the Silk Road.

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The Bukharian synagogue — a tradition rare anywhere else

The Bukharian synagogue, one of two active Bukharian synagogues in Tashkent, serves Bukharian Jewry - one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Practical tip: visiting the synagogue requires advance coordination with the community - contact them a few days before arriving.

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Chorsu Bazaar — best in the morning

Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent's central market beneath a giant turquoise dome, offers spices, dried fruits, and Uzbek street food. Practical tip: arrive early in the morning, when the produce is freshest and the market is less crowded.

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Amir Timur Museum — the heart of modern Tashkent

The Amir Timur Museum, a domed museum dedicated to Amir Timur (Tamerlane) and the Timurid dynasty, stands at the heart of the modern city's central square. Practical tip: combine the visit with a walk along the broad surrounding boulevards - the heart of Soviet-modern Tashkent.

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Between the network of synagogues and Chabad centers, Chorsu Bazaar, the Amir Timur Museum, and Independence Square, Tashkent offers a rare encounter with one of the world's oldest, least-known Jewish traditions, inside an ancient city on the Silk Road.