Antique House of Worship - Or a Palace?
Eastern Jews have for so long inhabited so many countries of the world, in their diaspora, their displacement and dispersing from their original homeland to become migrants, refugees, settlers, citizens of countries near and far from their first geography.Jews in India, in China, in Persia, in Spain and Portugal, France and England, Egypt and Russia. Just about everywhere, including Cuba, Mexico, the United States, Canada. And Tajikistan.
Likely all the other 'stans, as well. The country's capital, Dushanbe (who ever even heard of that city's name?) contained the 19th century wooden one-story building replete with stars of David that was the traditional synagogue for its 350 Jewish residents.
Nothing is forever, however. And no one is entitled to placidly anticipate that what has been in the past, and has been honoured and become an integral part of the life of the community, will resist change.
For it seems that Tajikistan's president, Imomali Rakhmon, has decided that the real estate upon which that wooden synagogue of another religion's heritage is too prime for that purpose, and a replacement can be handily located elsewhere. With the destruction of the synagogue the way has been laid clear for a park to adjoin the president's new palace.
A simple matter of priorities, after all. Beauty and function before age and wisdom. Or what have you. "It's painful to lose something very dear, something that cannot be valued in money terms", according to mournful Rabbi Mikhail Abdurakhmanov. "At the moment the existence of Tajikistan's only Jewish community is under threat. It's also a threat to elderly people who came here for help."
It would seem that the Jewish community in Tajikistan has migrated several times. In its very particular instance, they represent descendants of Persian-speaking Bukhara Jews who have lived in Central Asia for centuries. Their numbers have diminished since the country's independence from Soviet administration.
This group of Jews, however long they have lived in Tajikistan, has discovered what their counterparts have realized from time immemorial, that life is ephemeral, and residence anything but guaranteed, particularly for Jews. The re-creation of the State of Israel was to have represented a source of succour for Jews escaping persecution elsewhere in the world.
But wait: the government in Tajikistan has promised to produce an alternative plot of land for a new synagogue. Patience. The rabbi is awaiting word, word that has thus far been elusive, simply not forthcoming.
The city authorities have so much else on their busy minds.
Labels: Anti-Semitism, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, June 26, 2008
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