I know several millionaires, Bukharian jews, who do not know a word of English yet own whole buildings on the 42nd Street, in the jewelry district.
The thing is, to be successful you need enterpreneurial prowess, nothing more. Ultimately, you will find someone who will translate for you.
Bukharian jews are a branch of World Jewry, in an ethnic and geographic sense. Commonly, they are considered to be sephardic (Asian, North African) Jews but they're not. About 1200-1700 years ago several Iranian/Persian tribes migrated East into the areas around Afghanistan where they accepted Judaism from Jewish merchants (most likely). Some believe that they may have taken Judaism from babilonian Jews. In the 16th/17th centuries, or so the story goes, Bukharian Emir was very interested in bringing in a very crafty, highly mercantile group, which these Jews had become. Ever since, Bukhara had enjoyed a large and vibrant Jewish community. They have their own language, a sort of Farsi (Persian) language. They look like Uzbeks, they usually are efficient in Uzbek language, but they are somewhat more religious than most other Jews and somehow had managed to hold on to their religion despite 1500 years of isolation from other jews. There are two strong Bukharian communities in the states, New York and Miami. My wife is a Bukharian Jew from a very nice Bukharian family. here's Dorrit Moussaieff, a Bukharian jew, wife of Icelandic President.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal Is their language similar to Farsi in the same way that Yiddish is similar to German?
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal Yes, it is. In fact, some suggest that "Bukhori" (what my in-laws call their language) is merely a dialect of Farsi.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal They probably have a pretty distinct sense of identity considering their isolation yes?
Yes, they are very different from the rest of the Jews but they always vehemently defending their Jewishness. Their religious services are different, more vocal, than the Ashkenazi services. Their cousine, their traditional clothes, their traditional household items are similar to the surrounding populations (Turkmen, Uzbek). They really do not like aliens even the Jews from other branches to marry into their midst. Until recently, my example would have been very rare and very much a taboo.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal Never met Uzbek Jews but the middle eastern ones are shaaaaaady, especially the Yemen Jews. Completely different than Ashkenazi Jews who are great as a people.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal My mom babysat for an Orthodox Jewish family in Chicago and for whatever reason most of them dislike Israelis.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal Duno what that is yasik. They were just regular orthodox Jews, not anti-zionist ultra orthodox.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neturei_Karta The worst Jews are Jews themselves. http://www.nkusa.org/
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal I was planning on a decent REM session tonight. You just went ahead and spoiled it.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal I don't think they're holocaust deniers, just staunch anti-Zionists. I don't see why you'd dislike them so much ( apart from the Iran visit). You yourself stated that being Jewish is a religious thing first and foremost. Alright time to get some sleep time, hopefully catch the DK-Rubin tie.
Re: OT: FSU Photojournal You have no idea what you are talking about and I'm not going to try to explain it to you on this board.