ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION OF THE JEWISH DIASPORA IN TURKESTAN

This article examines the processes of formation and development of the Jewish diaspora in Central Asia, particularly in the region of Turkestan. The study analyzes the ethnocultural differentiation of Jewish communities, including Ashkenazi, Bukharan, Tat, Krymchak, and Karaite groups, focusing on their origins, linguistic features, and religious traditions. Special attention is given to the impact of the national policies of the Russian Empire and the Soviet period on the social structure and identity of the Jewish population. The article also explores the socio-economic activities, migration processes, and levels of cultural integration of Jewish communities in the region. The findings suggest that the Jewish population of Turkestan evolved from a relatively unified confessional group into a complex ethnocultural system, shaped by broader historical and political transformations.