THE HISTORY OF THE FORMATION OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The history of Judaism in Central Asia can be traced back to the 5th century BCE. However, Jewish communities in the territory of present-day Kazakhstan only began to emerge in the 19th century. In the first quarter of the 19th century, Jewish communities migrated to Kazakhstan from Uzbekistan, Russia, and Europe due to political, military, evacuation, and commercial factors. Among the Jewish groups that settled in Kazakhstan were Ashkenazi, Bukharian, Mountain, Georgian, and Crimean Jews. This article explores the stages of their resettlement, the motivational and causal factors driving their migration, the religious dynamics, and the distinctive characteristics of the migration processes of these communities within Kazakhstan.