A prestigious international scientific and practical conference titled “Bukharian Jews: In the Socio-Economic and Cultural Life of the Region” was held at Bukhara State University.
The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Uzbekistan, Jonathan Henick, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Uzbekistan, Gideon Lustig, as well as public figures, scholars, and members of the diplomatic corps from the United States, Israel, and European countries.
During the conference, leading experts from prominent international research centers, including Rafael Nektalov, Anatoly Iskhakov, Ezra Malakov and other distinguished academics, delivered more than 20 presentations. The reports addressed the centuries-old history of Bukharian Jews, their rich cultural heritage, their musical tradition — Shashmaqam — and their contribution to the regional economy.
Beyond its academic scope, the conference yielded practical outcomes. Memorandums of cooperation were signed between tourism organizations of the Bukhara region, manufacturing enterprises, and leading Israeli companies. Within the B2B meetings, concrete agreements were reached to enhance tourism potential, improve service standards, and implement investment projects.
The concert program presented as part of the event once again demonstrated the cultural interconnectedness between Uzbek and Bukharian Jewish traditions. Performances of Shashmaqam masterpieces and traditional melodies left a profound impression on international guests.
This international conference marked an important step toward strengthening Uzbekistan’s principles of tolerance, preserving cultural heritage, and elevating international socio-economic cooperation to a new level.
