Jewish, Bukharan in United States

Jewish, Bukharan
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Map Source:  People Group location: UPGNorthAmerica. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Jewish, Bukharan
Country: United States
10/40 Window: No
Population: 72,000
World Population: 140,500
Primary Language: English
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents: 0.04 %
Evangelicals: 0.04 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: Jewish
Affinity Bloc: Jewish
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Bukharic or Bukharan Jews are from a former Central Asian state called Bukhara. Since the end of the Soviet Union many of them have come to live in the United States of America.
Many Bukharan Jews live in New York, Arizona, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, San Diego and other American cities.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are Bukharan restaurants and gift shops in Forest Hills in New York where the Bukharan Jews have a closeness to each other. They were once cut off from the Jewish world but due to lobbying they are now much better known in America.
The Bukharan Jews in America speak English. They like to eat their ethnic foods and to keep their culture.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Judaism is the ancient monotheistic faith based on God's revelation to Moses in the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. The Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, includes the works of the Prophets and the Writings. Christians called these inspired books the Old Testament. Most of the Bukharic Jews in Israel do not practice the religious requirements of Judaism. They are cultural and ethnic Jews rather than observant ones. Most Bukharic Jews celebrate the Jewish holidays as being part of their heritage. The major holidays of Judaism are Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the New Jewish Year, the Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. Religious Jews attend synagogue on Saturdays and practice the Sabbath rest.

What Are Their Needs?

Bukharic Jews need to see that Jesus is their Messiah. Their following of Jewish traditions will not forgive their sins or bring them into a personal love relationship with God. There are Messianic Jewish believers in the United States who can share Jesus with them.

Prayer Points

Pray that The Bukharan Jews come to realize that Jesus Christ in the Bible is the Messiah.
Pray that Messianic Jews in America will lead them to Jesus Christ.
Pray for the eyes of their hearts to be open to Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project