Every Jewish New Year is like lighting a candle. And the more candles burn together, the brighter our shared light becomes. So it was with the year now behind us—a year full of sparks: ideas, books, gatherings, discoveries. Together they created a pattern of light illuminating the path of our community. At the heart of this light are not buildings or ceremonies, but people: those who think, write, create, debate, inspire. Those who turn intellect into living energy, into knowledge and cultural wealth that we cultivate and pass on.
On the threshold of Rosh Hashanah, it becomes especially clear: the true capital of a people is its intellectual heritage. And in the past year our community has once again proven that our greatest treasure is precisely this wealth.
5785 began with a remarkable event—the Festival of Bukharian Jewish Culture and Arts in New York, initiated by The Bukharian Times editor-in-chief Raphael Nektalov and supported by our organization and magazine. The energy was unforgettable! Ladies’ World opened the festival with our own 25th anniversary, celebrating the “Esther HaMalka” organization and honoring the laureates of the “Person of the Year–2024” award for their dedication to Israel. Beyond the celebrations lay depth: an art exhibition, a roundtable on language preservation, and an international conference dedicated to the poem Ba Yodi Khudoydod. These were not just cultural events—they were our “candles of knowledge,” lit together.
The year also brought anniversaries that enriched this light. The Israeli magazine Bukharian Jews marked its 10th year, becoming a living archive and cultural pillar for our people. The Bukharian Jewish Cultural Center in Dimona—Israel’s only one of its kind—celebrated its first decade, having grown into a true symbol of community life. Meanwhile, our widely known women’s youth book club in New York has become a true home for creative minds—where books, lessons, workshops, and mutual support nurture growth and inspiration.
We can be proud that our voices are heard on the highest stages. The appointment of Hagit Sofiyeva-Levaeva as head of the Bukharian Jewish Congress of the U.S. and Canada, her election to the World Zionist Congress and the Board of the Jewish Agency, exemplify how women’s wisdom and energy reach the global arena. In Europe, Michael Ustoniiazov became a delegate to the World Zionist Congress from Austria. These are not merely titles, but recognition of our people’s voice worldwide.
This year’s Ladies’ World covers have featured the young women of our community—bright, talented, confident, and successful. Their stories are lessons in perseverance and courage, showing how intellect and knowledge become a force for achievement.
A special pride of 5785 is the new books published by our authors—a whole library of thought. Among them: Rena Elizarova (The Saga of the Elizarovs Through Generations), Boris Kandov (Bukharian Jews of America. A Chronology. 1996–2024), Dr. Robert Pinkhasov (From the Depths of Memory and two photo albums on Bukharian Jews of the 17th–21st centuries), Isaac Mosheev (Life is Beautiful and Amazing), Markiel Fazylov and Hana Danielova (My People), Rafael Aronov (z”l) (Conversations with Memory), Prof. Veliyam Kandinov (The Remarkable World of Remarkable People), Ben Isakov (Reflections at a Night Window), and Evgenia Aronova (Legacy). Their works—memoirs, research, literature—together answer the most important question: Who are we, and what will we leave behind?
5785 proved to be a year of abundance, confirming once again that the intellectual potential of Bukharian Jewry is inexhaustible. And so my wish for the coming 5786: may each of us have our own “candle of knowledge,” cherished and shared with others. May our community remain a garden where ideas take root, talents blossom, traditions grow stronger, and new meanings are born. And may this garden always be filled with light, passed faithfully from generation to generation.
Happy Jewish New Year 5786!
Warmly,
Dr. Zoya Maksumova
Editor-in-Chief
