By Erin Levi
On October 30, nine members of the Akilov family visited the Bukharian Jewish Museum, with many experiencing it for the first time. The highlight of the visit was encountering a portrait of their ancestor, Mullo Ilyau Akilov, affectionately known as “The Computer” by his community for his exceptional memory and knowledge.
Born on April 27, 1941, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Mullo Ilyau, or Ilyushi Oqil, was renowned for his work in leading funeral services—a role he embraced as the ultimate chesed, or act of kindness. With a remarkable ability to recall names, events, and family histories with precision, he became the community’s trusted source for ancestral information. The family name Akilov itself originates from the Arabic word «Oqil,» meaning intelligent—a fitting tribute to Mullo Ilyau’s legacy of wisdom and dedication.
After his passing on July 31, 2008, his children and grandchildren have continued his legacy, becoming community leaders and spreading knowledge, happiness, and Torah.
This visit not only deepened the Akilov family’s connection to their heritage but also highlighted the museum’s mission to preserve and share the rich culture of the Bukharian Jewish community.
“Our goal is to get people to sign up for the Bukharian Jewish Museum so they can see their heritage and discover what they left behind. This is all chesed,” said Milana Ilyayeva, Rabbi Akilov’s granddaughter and a museum staff member. “I personally don’t take a dollar. It’s really so our Bukharian teenagers don’t forget who they are, where they came from, and to feel proud.”
The reactions of the family and others attending that night reflected the museum’s profound impact on its visitors. Read on to see their reflections in the guest book.
The Guest Book
“On Wednesday night I had the privilege of going to the Bukharian Jewish Museum run by Aron Aronov. There are no words to describe such an amazing experience. We were brought through our customs, stories and lifestyle. With antique artifacts they showed us where we came from and our culture. Amazing experience.”— Eliyahu Akilov
“I had the privilege this week to go and have a tour of the Bukharian Jewish Museum by Mr. Aron Aronov and his daughter Alla. I personally feel like our generation of Bukharian jews who were not born and raised have to go and get the tour and see how our parents and/or grandparents were raised. Mr. Aronov has a lot of knowledge going in detail from how our ancestors got to Samarkand in the first place to how and why we ended up leaving Samarkand. A highlight to me about the expenses that will stay with me for the rest of my life was reading from a Sefer Torah that was at least 100 years old, reading from a Megillah that was also probably 100 years old, and getting to blow the Shofar that was also 100 years old. Thank you so much Mr. Aronov and Mrs. Alla and I urge EVERYONE to go check it out.” — Zalman Akilov
“Dear Bukharian Community! This past Wednesday evening, the 30th of October, my family and I visited the Bukharian Jewish Museum! The Museum is located at the CITI MED HEADQUARTERS BUILDING in Rego Park, Queens. It is run and upheld By Mr. Aron Aronov and his daughter Alla! A huge thank you goes to Mr. Yan Moshe for giving the Museum a home!
I would like to start off by expressing my gratitude to Mr. Aronov for all his time and knowledge! We started off with a history lesson (in a state-of-the-art garage)! Then went into the museum, it was really a lifetime experience! We saw a 100+-year-old Torah and Megillah! We wore the JOMA our ancestors wore! We learned that when a guest comes to our home even in the hot day, we give him tea and not cold water. The biggest highlight of the night was seeing my GRANDFATHER, Rav Eliyahu Akilov (COMPUTER) portrait there!
There is really so much I can say about this unbelievable experience! I would really highly recommend and urge each and every one of us to go and get that experience! I know that our group of 9 all had an amazing time! We will all DEFINITELY be back again!
Thank you very much to Mr. Aron Aronov and Your Amazing Daughter Alla for this lifetime experience!” — Nisim Akilov
“Wow! This was an amazing experience! I would like to thank Mr. Aron Aronov and his daughter Alla for giving us a tour of the beautiful Bukharian Jewish Museum! The night started off with a thorough geographic and historical lesson from Mr. Aronov, where we discussed the origin and whereabouts of the Bukharian people over the centuries.
Through his amazing life stories and experience, Mr. Aronov gave us a deep understanding of how the living conditions were in Uzbekistan and how privileged we are now; he showed us many antique pieces of Judaica including a Megillat Esther scroll, an old pair of tefillin, and a Torah scroll from over 300 years ago!
There was also a large arrangement of traditional Bukharian clothing including a colorful collection of Bukharian kalpoks (kippah) & jomas (embroidered velvet robes). We all dressed up in the bright apparel and took a photo with a portrait of my grandfather, Mullo Ilyahu Ilusha Akilov and his family. We also had a chance to play some traditional instruments including a doira, karnay and dutar. The museum also presented an array of Soviet Era Memorabilia giving us a glimpse of communist life.
Before we left Mr. Aronov highlighted a key difference between our modern Western society and the Bukharian community of the past, what’s the difference? The difference is, if you want to visit someone’s home now, you’d have to call them in advance, whereas in Uzbekistan everyone’s doors were always open! I believe that every member of the Bukharian community should visit this museum, especially the younger generation! We have to learn about our past and embrace our unique Bukharian Jewish roots!
I’d like to express a huge Thank you to Mr. Aronov for dedicating his life to keeping the Bukharian Community and its history alive! — Efraim Ilyayev
“My name is Daniela Akilova. I go to Touro University, and I had the privilege with 8 other people on October 30, 2024, to go to the Bukharian Museum. Mr. Aron Aronov and his daughter Alla gave us a history introduction about how the Bukharian people came about. After that, they gave us a tour of how the Bukharian people lived in their houses, the way they made it warm in the house, he showed us different antiques such as a metal bowl with a cover they had in order to keep their food cold so it doesn’t get bad. Afterward, we saw a picture of our grandfather with his siblings and took a picture holding the portrait while wearing Jomas. Overall, we all had an amazing experience and would most definitely come back with others so they could also get the experience we had. Thank you so much to Mr. Aron Aronov and his daughter Alla.” — Daniela Akilova, Touro University
A Note from the Museum
“First and foremost, I want to thank Mr. Aron Aronov for choosing me to be part of this incredible journey at the Bukharian Museum alongside him and his daughter. Attending the museum’s grand opening was an unforgettable experience, showcasing the remarkable efforts that Mr. Aron Aronov and his daughter, Alla Aronov, have dedicated to creating this space. Their hard work, along with the contributions of many others, has brought our heritage to life. I feel truly privileged to learn from Mr. Aronov about the museum and to be trained to give tours, sharing the stories and significance of our culture with others. The Bukharian Museum is unlike any other; it shares the narratives of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, preserving a legacy that we will pass on to our children.
To my fellow Bukharian youth, I wholeheartedly encourage you and your families to visit this extraordinary museum that celebrates our history and inspires our future. If you’d like to book a visit, feel free to reach out to me, Milana Ilyayeva, at (917) 496-5313, or contact Alla Aronov at (646) 251-1512.” — With pride in our heritage, Milana Ilyayeva, Proud Bukharian