History of the Jews in Kazakhstan

General Secretary Joseph Stalin evacuated thousands of Ashkenazi Jews from other parts of the Soviet Union to the Kazakh SSR.

[12][1] There are estimated to be approximately four dozen Persian Jewish families living in Kazakhstan, which call themselves Lakhloukh and speak Aramaic.

These Persian Jews lived near the border of Iran and commonly practiced trade to sustain their communities.

[14] There are smaller communities in Karaganda, Shymkent, Semey, Kokshetau, Taraz, Oral, Aktobe, and Petropavl.

The Jewish communities formed the AKJC in December 1999 in a ceremony attended by Kazakh government officials and United States Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Richard Jones.