By
Shelomo Alfassa
February
26, 2006 - Israel Insider Magazine
February 27, 2006 - Los Angeles Jewish Observer
February 28, 2006 - Jewsweek
March 3, 2006 - The Jewish Voice
Decent
people of the world were horrified by the destruction
of the gold domed mosque last week, but on the same
day, the destruction of an active synagogue—by
a progressive government, supposedly based on civil
law—was hardly even noted.
On
February 22, 2006, an active mosque, much beloved by
its Muslim congregation, was destroyed after a powerful
bomb exploded inside it, destroying the gold dome on
its roof. This was one of Iraq's most famous religious
shrines. Terrorists detonated powerful explosives, destroying
most of the building, and prompting thousands of people
to flood into streets across the country in protest.
(This attack, 60 miles north of Baghdad,caused extensive
international outrage.)
On
February 22, 2006, an active synagogue, much beloved
by its Jewish congregation, was destroyed after heavy
construction equipment tore off the roof, crushed its
concrete walls and drove through its sanctuary. This
was the only active synagogue in the country of Tajikistan,
a country north of Afghanistan and south of Russia.
The synagogue was destroyed so the government can build
a
grand palace for its president. “If the Jews want
to have [rebuild] a synagogue, let them pay for it out
of their own funds,” said Shamsuddin Nuriddinov,
head of the City of Dushanbe, Religious Affairs Department.
(This attack, 280 miles north of Kabul, Afghanistan,
caused NO international outrage.)
According
to Google News, 2,930 news articles appear for the mosque
destruction, while only six exist on the synagogue destruction—and
those six are really just one brief mention that has
been repeated through syndication in American newspapers.
In
regard to the mosque destruction, statements were issued
from leaders around the world. President Bush stated,
“I extend my deepest condolences to the people
of Iraq for the brutal bombing of the Golden Mosque
in Samarra....The American people pledge to work with
the people of Iraq to rebuild and restore the Golden
Mosque of Samarra to its former glory.” He added:
“The United States stands ready to do all in its
power to assist the Government of Iraq to identify and
bring to justice those responsible for this terrible
act.”
There
are some 150-250 Jews in Tajikistan, mostly elderly
Bukharian Jews. When news of the destruction of the
Tajikistan synagogue reached the Bukharian community
in the United States, the news was met with shock; people
whose children were brought up in that synagogue reacted
in tears. Members of the Bukharian community in Atlanta,
Georgia stated they worry about the Jewish cemeteries
that are near the synagogue, what will happen to them?
In
regard to the synagogue destruction, not one statement
was made by any government of any country around the
world. The only Jewish organization to speak up on this
was the International Sephardic Leadership Council,
of which this writer is executive director of. While
the media covered some 1,000 Israeli fans of a Tel Aviv
basketball team demonstrating on Saturday night against
the destruction of the team's historic arena, not one
person in the main stream media has come out to address
the destruction of the center of Jewish life in Tajikistan.
First the government destroyed the mikvah (ritual bath),
then the kosher butcher shop, now the entire synagogue.
While
Iraq is 97% Islamic, Tajikistan comes in at 85% Islamic
and growing. And while the Iraqi Muslims claim say the
community near the gold domed mosque was there for 1000
years, the Jewish community has been in the area surrounding
Tajikistan for 2000 years. And while the gold domed
mosque in Iraq was built in 1905—a little over
100 years ago—the synagogue in Tajikistan was built
100 years ago as well. Yet, everyone is quiet about
this. Including Jewish organizations—this must
change.
The
destruction of the Tajikistan synagogue is the most
disgraceful act committed by a sovereign state toward
its Jewish population since the end of WWII. The Soviet
Union and its successor states may have oppressed and
harassed their Jewish communities, but even at the height
of Stalin’s anti-Semitic purges they did not seek
to wipe every element of Jewish existence like the Tajikistan
government.
It
is an ominous message for a Jewish community, that while
living under a government that is attempting to rebuild
its economic, political and social image—it starts
by wiping out the only synagogue in its country.
Where
is the outrage?
