The editorial staff of Ladies’ World magazine and the women’s
organization Esther HaMalka extend their
deepest condolences to his wife Lilia, his son Gabriel, his daughter Gulya,
their families, relatives, and loved ones on the passing of Malkiel Nisimovich Daniel (Danielov), who
died in New York on July 20, 2026, at the age of 94.
We have lost a man whose name long ago became
part of the history of the Bukharian Jewish community—and whose influence
reached far beyond it. He was known and respected by people of many
nationalities and in many countries. A gifted publicist, writer, journalist, and
community leader, he devoted nearly eighty years of his life to journalism.
While still a student in the Department of
History and Philology at Tajik State University, Malkiel Nisimovich began
publishing his work, revealing at an early age a rare literary gift. Throughout
his long and often difficult life—including the harsh years of Soviet
repression that preceded his departure for Israel—he remained unwaveringly
faithful to his calling, using the written word in the service of the highest
moral ideals.
He wrote and spoke in Russian, Tajik, and
Hebrew—in Dushanbe, Israel, Germany, and New York. His articles appeared in
newspapers and magazines; he hosted programs on Radio Liberty and appeared on television. In recognition of
his many years of work at Radio Liberty,
Malkiel Nisimovich received a personal letter of appreciation from U.S.
President Bill Clinton, acknowledging his contribution to the development of
democratic processes in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
He was a member of the Union of Journalists of
the USSR, served on the board of the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan, and
was a member of the Union of Cinematographers. Even during the final years of
his life in New York, Malkiel Nisimovich remained actively involved in
journalism. His work appeared in our magazine on numerous occasions, and with
his characteristic warmth and humor, he never tired of saying how much he loved
women—and Ladies’ World.
Yet all these accomplishments pale beside what
mattered most: the kind of person he was.
Exceptionally cultured, honorable, noble,
kindhearted, and remarkably considerate, he possessed a rare grace in the way
he treated others. His character was gentle yet strong. He knew how to listen.
He was a brilliant conversationalist and one of those people whose very
presence somehow made the world around them feel a little brighter.
We, the women of Esther HaMalka and Ladies’
World, knew Malkiel Nisimovich in different ways. But each of us carries
her own cherished memories of him. These are the memories we would like to
share.
Dr. Zoya Maksumova:
“Uncle Malkiel—as we all called him—and dear
Lilia came into my life and the lives of my children, Angela and Andrey, after
our family suffered a devastating loss: the death of my husband, Yakov
Izrailov-Khodzhibekov.
It seemed as though we had known one another
for many years. He immediately won our hearts with his quiet voice,
extraordinary sensitivity, and gentle, unobtrusive care. He came to almost
every memorial gathering and somehow knew how to take our minds away from grief
with fascinating stories, thoughtful reflections, and memories.
At the time, we did not yet fully understand
the magnitude of the man before us. But one thing we noticed immediately was
the extraordinary love and respect he had for his Lilia. There was something
beautiful, noble, and deeply touching about the way he loved her.
From then on, our family gatherings became a
cherished tradition, and our daughters became friends. On every holiday, every
Shabbat, he invariably tried to beat me to it and be the first to call with his
good wishes. That wonderful habit became one of those small joys that remain in
your heart forever.”
Rena Elizarova:
“My dear Uncle Malkiel—that is what I always
called him—and I were friends for several decades. It was a rare and genuine
friendship.
On my desk is a photograph taken at his
granddaughter’s bat mitzvah. It was a very special occasion for the entire
family, and he did everything he could to make sure every guest felt the
atmosphere of true joy.
His life was not an easy one. His final years
in Dushanbe were especially difficult. He knew all too well the price of
hardship, injustice, and the trials life can bring.
Later, fate brought him to New York, where the
entire Danielov family truly became family to me. Few people know what a loyal
and devoted friend he was. After my husband died, it was Uncle Malkiel and
Lilia who stood beside me and shared the most difficult years of my life.
He possessed an extraordinary literary gift.
Many times I encouraged him to write for various publications, including Ladies’ World. His memoirs invariably became
some of our most compelling pieces, written in the finest tradition of literary
nonfiction.
He was a wonderful husband, a wise father, and
a man whose decisions were always marked by common sense and dignity.
They say that when a person dies, he leaves
this world. Perhaps that is true. But he does not leave our hearts. In mine, my
dear Uncle Malkiel will forever hold a very special place.”
Sarina Kushmakova:
“Last year, while preparing an interview for
our column From Your Wisdom to Our Youth,
I met Malkiel Nisimovich for the first time. His passing has become a deeply
personal loss for me.
Several years ago, I lost both of my
grandfathers. At the time, I thought I could never again experience grief that
profound. But after Mr. Daniel passed away, I realized I was wrong.
Everything changed the day I first stepped
into his home. He welcomed me so warmly that it felt as though we had known
each other for years—as though I were already part of his family. He always
addressed me with the formal Russian vy,
a mark of respect, and sincerely wondered why Dr. Maksumova had chosen him for
the interview. But how could we possibly have passed by a man with such wisdom,
such a wealth of life experience, and such nobility?
I was captivated by his rare humility, his
innate refinement, and his genuine love of life. I will never forget the
tenderness with which he spoke of his wife even when she was not in the room;
the pride in his voice when he spoke about his son and daughter; or the day he
gave me a copy of his book, Through Hardship
to Freedom, with a warm personal inscription.
And I will never forget that he was the very
first person to call me on my birthday—to congratulate me and give me his
blessing.
Such gestures may seem small, but they tell us
far more about a person than the grandest words ever could. It is moments like
these that create the kind of memories no passage of time can erase.
Mr. Daniel left an indelible mark on my heart.
Today, it is difficult to imagine that there was ever a time when I did not
know him. And although he will no longer open the door of his home to welcome a
guest, and we will no longer hear his kind voice, everything he left behind—his
kindness, wisdom, dignity, and love for people—will continue to live in the
hearts of those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with him.”
The other members of our magazine and
organization knew Malkiel Nisimovich primarily through community events, his
articles, and his books. But no matter how closely one knew him, the same words
invariably come to mind: nobility,
honesty, literary talent, refinement, humility, and extraordinary kindness.
He belonged to that rare kind of person who
becomes a central figure not only in the stories he writes, but also in the
memories of those whose lives he touched.
As long as his books remain, as long as his
students and friends are with us, and as long as those who were inspired by his
words and by the example of his life remember him, Malkiel Nisimovich Danielov will continue to live among us.
May his
memory be a blessing.
Dr. Zoya Maksumova, Rena
Elizarova, Sarina Kushmakova, Dina Katanova, Nina Kailiakova, Nina Normatova,
Mira Kakzanova, Mara Bababekova, Rosa Babekova, Tamara Kataeva, Dr. Dora
Pinkhasova, Raya Davydova, Sveta Kaikova, Mira Zirkieva
