A big weeklong
festival celebrating Bukharian Jewish culture and heritage in North America,
conceived by Rafael Nektalov, is slated to take place from September 15th to
September 22nd in Queens.
The festival will commemorate several milestones: the 60th anniversary of the
Bukharian Jewish Community Center, the 25th anniversary of Bukharian Jewish
Congress of the USA and Canada, the 25th anniversary of Bukharian women’s
organization Esther-a-Malka, publisher of the magazine «Ladies’ World,» and the
20th anniversary of the charitable foundation named after Eduard Nektalov.
Erin Levi, English Section Editor of «The Bukharian Times» spokes with the president of Esther-a-Malka, editor-in-chief of the «Ladies’ World» magazine Dr. Zoya Maksumova, M.D., a radiologist by day, to glean more insights into the significance of these milestones, the planned events for the festival, and the pivotal role of women in promulgating and preserving Bukharian Jewish culture.
Erin Levi: Can you tell us about the role you’re playing
in the Bukharian Jewish Culture Week this year?
Dr. Zoya Maksumova: Our women’s organization will be actively involved
throughout the festival. We are excited to kick off the week with our «Person
of the Year» competition. This
year, our «Person of the Year» award winners will be those volunteers and
community activists who have distinguished themselves in this challenging
period for Israel. Same day we will celebrates both the 25th anniversary
of our magazine, Ladies’ World, and our organization Esther-a-Malka within the
Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada. This event is a charity
event so that we can continue to help Israel.
Additionally, we will participate in all the cultural events spanning the
week.
The festival’s diverse program, in my opinion, is an excellent opportunity for
our group, with their families, to engage with the community and attend all
these rich cultural, educational, and informative events.
EL: What else are you excited about?
ZM: I’m particularly thrilled about the breadth of activities planned
for the «Week of Bukharian Jewish Culture and Art in America.» This is a new
series of events, marking a slew of significant anniversaries within our
community. The festival program is extensive. I am elated that the festival
begins with our magazine’s «Person of the Year 2024» international competition
on September 15th, the start of a cascade of events that celebrate our
community’s achievements and contributions in America.
Let me remind you that Ladies’ World has been holding the «Woman of the Year,»
«Outstanding Mother» and «Person of the Year» competitions since 2002. These
are bright and important events in our public and cultural life, honoring the
best representatives of the communities of America, Israel, Austria and
Uzbekistan.
Now we are
experiencing one of the turning points in Jewish history, and therefore the
competition in these difficult times is also special.
This time, the focus of the contest winners will be
determined by today's reality. Since October 7, 2023, a period of incredible
solidarity and interaction has begun for all of us – we have united in our
desire to help Israel and the Israeli army. This includes fundraising for
ammunition, body armor, tents, and delicious food for Israeli soldiers;
spiritual events (prayers, challah parties, Tehillim classes, etc.) to help
Israel by appealing to the Almighty; and the fight against antisemitism and
many other manifestations of support and solidarity with the Israeli people.
We
cannot fail to pay attention to all these people and organizations who
tirelessly help Israel, doing so selflessly and with pure hearts, bringing it
closer to victory. They do this not for recognition, awards, or even in
expectation of a "thank you" for their civic position and help –
their help is selfless, and their motives are driven by deep patriotism,
solidarity, and great hearts. As long as the hearts of volunteers, benefactors,
and donors beat, so does the hearts of the Israeli people.
Therefore, this
year we offer three nomination categories: 1. Charity; 2. Heroic deed; 3. No
antisemitism!
The call for
nominations closes soon. We are asking people to send applications and
recommendations in writing (no more than 200 words) to ladiesworld@gmail.com no
later than August 5th.
EL: How do you think the festival helps in preserving and promoting
Bukharian Jewish heritage in America, and in what ways do women play a vital
role in Bukharian culture?
ZM: In my opinion, the role of women in promoting Bukharian Jewish
heritage in America is very significant. Since women are energetically very
strong and energetically more connected to their children, (I would say
stronger than men), everything they bring in terms of tradition and our
cultural heritage, everything penetrates very deeply into the hearts and minds
of young people.
In this case, the week of Bukharian culture will undoubtedly help to further
promote Bukharian Jewish heritage, and therefore I invite our entire community
to visit every event held within the framework of this festival. Every day of
this festival is something new, interesting, informative, and connected to both
history and modernity. Such a large-scale festival is being held for the first
time in our community, and I believe that this is a great start for the
cultural development of our community.
EL: Can you tell me more about your role as the director of the Women’s
Division at the Bukharian Jewish Congress of USA and Canada?
ZM: On May 1-2, 1999, the Founding Congress of the Congress of Bukharian
Jews of the USA and Canada took place, at which Boris Kandov was elected
president. It was an amazing time when we, Bukharian Jews, were creating our
history in a new country, where we arrived as immigrants from different regions
of Central Asia. In short, a fateful event took place at the highest level. The
divisions of the Congress were approved, including the women’s association,
which later received the name Esther-a-Malka. I was unanimously elected as
president.
At the end of the same year, we initiated the publication of the world’s first
magazine dedicated to Bukharian Jewish women. The magazine has become a
mouthpiece for the highest traditional and moral ideas that our women should
possess. Then we began to hold «Woman of the Year» contests, the first of which
was held in 2002.
Over time, these competitions have grown into international ones, and they were
all aimed at maximizing the authority of Bukharian Jewish women, showing the
world the integrity of their nature, devotion to family, and hard work …
Ladies’ World had its own «Guest Room,» which was located in the Bukharian
Jewish Community Center where meetings with interesting people and specialists
from various fields of knowledge were held. Over time, all this activity was
taken over by the magazine, through which we can reach and convey more
information to a larger number of people. In the past few years, the Ladies’
World Guest Room has moved from a room to a «Guest Room on Wheels» and we
organize very popular tourist trips with highly educated guides who introduce
our community to the country of America and abroad.
EL: From one editor to another, tell me, how it was to work with the
Bukharian Times on this project?
ZM: Any community event is best conducted together, drawing ideas from
one another. We scheduled our event «Person of the Year 2024» for Sunday,
September 15th. This date was chosen at the request of the nominees and guests
from Israel so they could return in time for the Jewish holidays. Exactly one
week later, also on a Sunday, September 22nd, the celebration of our Center’s
anniversary had already been planned. Preparing for our celebration, we held a
meeting with Congress President Boris Kandov, BJCC President Leon Nektalov, and
Bukharian Times editor-in-chief, Rafael Nektalov. During the discussion, a very
interesting idea was proposed by Rafael Nektalov – to make the entire week
between these two important events a Festival. We would start with «Person of
the Year 2024» and conclude with the BJCC’s anniversary celebration, with a
weeklong Festival for our community, celebrating its culture, traditions, and
art, in between. I liked this excellent idea, and this is how it was born.
All information about the upcoming wonderful events of this September week – before,
during, and after – is widely published in our media outlets. I believe our
readers are paying attention to these announcements and will actively
participate in all the festive days. This is a great opportunity for all of us
to be together again, rejoice for our people, thank those who help Israel, and
congratulate all the organizations that are celebrating their anniversaries
during this time.
EL: Indeed. Thank you for your precious time, Dr. Zoya. I look forward
to celebrating with you in September!
Erin Levi,
English Section Editor of «The Bukharian Times»
