Jewish Journal  Jews of Uzbekistan  Going, going, but hopefully
not gone.  by Richard S. Gunther  October 19, 2000 | 8:00 pm
There are three theories on when Jews came to Uzbekistan:  1. A
myth-like tale claims they are part of the tribe of Naftali that
fled to Central Asia following the destruction of the First
Temple in 586 B.C.  2. A more authenticated story is that they
fled the persecution in Persia under King Peroz in 458 to 485
C.E.  3. They came in the seventh century along the silk road,
primarily as merchants.  Whichever story you accept, there is a
long history of a Jewish presence in this area. In the ninth
century, the city of Samarkand had 50,000 Jews, and the Jewish
population of Uzbekistan in 1989 before the mass emigration was
120,000. Today it is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000
Jews remain. The number is uncertain because only now have many
surfaced who did not identify as Jews under Soviet rule for fear
of discrimination.  Over the centuries, the fortunes of the Jews
rose and fel