The Jews of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek LA Jewish Connection

Jan

Map Unavailable

Date/Time
Date(s) - January 25, 2026
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Speaker
Dorothy Stebinsky, Rose Pink, Rene Judkiewicz and JGSLA president Laura Gold.

Categories No Categories

JGSLA’s next meeting – Live

There is ample free parking in a large parking lot.

The synagogue will be open at 1:00 P.M. for check in

This Sunday’s program will be live streamed on the TRZ website.

*note place and date change, new date is January 25, 2026

Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge

17655 Devonshire St. Northridge, CA 91325

Program Description:

Jewish LA series – The Jews of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek LA Jewish Connection.

This program, in panel format, will focus on personal accounts, available Uzbek genealogical records and present day Jewish institutions

The importance of Uzbekistan to Jewish history and genealogy is mostly forgotten. The sub-ethnic group of Bukharian Jews has its roots in the territory of Uzbekistan. Legend has it that Jews settled there following the destruction of the First Temple with a documented Jewish presence dating back to the 4th century C.E.. A large 12th century Jewish community in Samarkand is documented and a well maintained cemetery and available records constitute a prime source for genealogists. Importantly, Uzbekistan became a safe haven for Ashkenazi Jews escaping Nazi persecution and genocide. That history needs telling.

There are Jews in Los Angeles who owe their very existence to Uzbekistan. This program will attempt to rectify our omission of Central Asia in the study of Jewish Genealogy when panelists Stebinsky, Pink and Judkiewicz speak of their own families’ survival because of Uzbekistan. Laura Gold traveled extensively throughout Uzbekistan meeting with Jewish leaders and visiting synagogues and cemeteries.

Biography:
A panel discussion, with Dorothy Stebinsky, Rose Pink, Rene Judkiewicz and JGSLA president Laura Gold.

Dorothy Stebinsky was a baby when her family escaped from Poland. Her large extended family was separated with Dorothy and her parents traveling to Siberia and her grandparents, aunts and uncles to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Rose Pink’s family escaped the threat from Hitler to Tashkent where Rose spent her early childhood. Rene Judkiewicz’s father escaped from Poland and was drafted into the Soviet army. Seriously injured in battle, he spent a year in a Tashkent hospital. Laura Gold traveled extensively throughout Uzbekistan, visiting synagogues and cemeteries. In Samarkand she learned about the extensive cemetery records available to researchers. Uzbekistan has a long Jewish history including both Uzbek Bukharan Jews and Ashkenazi Jews.

JGSLA MEMBERS FREE – $5 FOR GUESTS, ALL ARE WELCOME

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please plan ahead, here are dates to keep in mind:

New information will be added here when confirmed.