Last week, tragedy struck: Rabbi Zvi Kogan z”l, a young and inspiring Chabad emissary in Dubai, was kidnapped and murdered. Dubai, a city recently welcoming to Israelis thanks to the 2020 Abraham Accords, was shaken by the news. Rabbi Kogan, originally from Israel and Moldova, ran a kosher grocery store in the UAE, serving as a vital lifeline for the budding Jewish community.
When reports identified the perpetrators as three Uzbek nationals allegedly hired by Iran, I felt another pang in my gut, a potential blow to interfaith relations.
A wave of questions followed: How was the Bukharian Jewish community feeling? And what would this mean for my Uzbek friends? Particularly, what would this mean for Uzbekistan-Bukharian Jewish relations, both at home and abroad?
A Condemnation from Uzbekistan
I first reached out to Oybek Eshkobilov, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations. I asked him if he had any words of comfort to share with the Bukharian Jewish community in Queens who live alongside Uzbek American neighbors in New York City, and who continue to travel to Uzbekistan:
“We condemn such [a] heinous attack. We express our deepest condolences. Our Foreign Minister met with [the] Ambassador of Israel on this matter.”
Eshkobilov then directed me to a statement by Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, who met with Israel’s ambassador to express condolences:
“Met with the Ambassador of #Israel to #Uzbekistan H.E. @GideonLustig today @UzbekMFA. Expressed our sincerest condolences with regard to passing of Zvi Kogan. People of #Uzbekistan have always been friendly to all representatives of religions and backgrounds. We never tolerated and will never tolerate any form of nationalism. Underscored that terrorism and extremism do not have any borders and nationality. @GovUz has been closely cooperating with authorities in the #UAE and #Israel on investigations,” Saidov wrote on X.com on November 26.
Indeed, Uzbekistan does not tolerate religious extremism.
Uzbekistan has a longstanding history of tolerance and coexistence. Jewish visitors, myself included, have consistently experienced warmth and respect in the country, as this paper has previously reported. However, outside its borders, some nationals are at risk of radicalization. This tarnishes their homeland’s reputation, which is certainly not a factory of fanaticism.
Community Reactions
I then reached out to the Bukharian Jewish community, asking: In light of the recent kidnapping and murder of Rabbi Kogan in the UAE, and the revelation that this unthinkable act was carried out by three Uzbek nationals, how are you feeling?
Are you surprised? Do you feel less safe living amongst Uzbek nationals in Queens? Are any of you reconsidering plans to travel to Uzbekistan, which will host the next World Congress in May 2025, or to the UAE, which not too long ago hosted the World Bukharian Congress in 2022? Have some of your Uzbek neighbors denounced the act and expressed support, following in the footsteps of their foreign minister to the UAE?
Here are the responses. They are responses that fill me with hope, rising above the fear, and I hope they will fill you with hope, too.
A Safe Community, Surprised by Tragedy
“I’m feeling good. As a Bukharian Jew living in Rego Park / Forest Hills, it seems safe here. I’m very surprised these Uzbek people would do that…I would love to attend any Bukharian events. And go to Uzbekistan.” — David Shakhmoroff
A Traveler Finds Warmth in Central Asia
“I felt absolutely safe [traveling in Central Asia earlier this month.] The governments of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan do not tolerate antisemitism or violence or threats against Jews because the government does not want Islamic extremists in their countries. Tajiks and Uzbeks were very respectful and warm and open everywhere, especially in Samarkand and Dushanbe. It did help I spoke Russian and Tajik (Bukharian) in Dushanbe and Samarkand because Samarkand is a Tajik city as is Bukhara within Uzbekistan.” — Robert “Bobby” Nudel
Sharing Plov, Sharing Humanity
“I feel distraught—gutted, really—because the poor, innocent rabbi did nothing, absolutely nothing, to deserve such cruelty. It’s the kind of act that leaves you shaking your head, staring at the floor, grappling with the senselessness of it all. And yet, in no way, shape, or form do I feel unsafe living alongside my Uzbek neighbors in Queens. You can’t pin atrocities like this on an entire community. No, those who committed these vile acts were radicalized, swept up in an ideology that doesn’t reflect the values of the good, hardworking people I see every day.
“I’ve shared meals, stories, and laughter with people from this community. I’ve tasted their plov, sipped their tea, and felt their warmth and pride in their culture. They are not the villains here. You can’t paint an entire group with the brush of the disturbingly few.
“As a first-generation American, I know what it’s like to feel connected to somewhere distant, somewhere through the memories and stories of your parents and grandparents. That pull, the curiosity—it’s undeniable. I absolutely plan to visit Uzbekistan one day. To walk the streets of Samarkand, Tashkent and Bukhara, to breathe in the history, to sit down for a feast where bread is broken and lives are shared.
“I also plan to visit the UAE, where an entirely different tapestry of culture and modernity awaits. Seeing the world for yourself, beyond the headlines and the fear. Finding humanity, even in its darkest moments.” — Abe Fuzaylov, Bukharian Bites
Uzbekistan: A Nation of Coexistence, Not Extremism
Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov offered words of comfort and perspective in response to the tragedy, emphasizing Uzbekistan’s longstanding history of tolerance and its vibrant cultural heritage as a predominantly Muslim nation. “Samarkand, in particular, has a very vibrant Muslim culture with beautiful mosques, like the Registan,” he noted, adding that the country’s pride in its history and culture should not be overshadowed by the actions of a radicalized few.
Addressing concerns about safety and the potential for rising extremism, Rabbi Nisanov remarked, “Obviously, you will always have fanatics, but that does not represent the general population. Uzbekistan is a modern Muslim country, not an Arab one, and they condemn such acts.” He acknowledged that extremists exist in every society, comparing it to the presence of neo-Nazi groups in the United States: “The biggest Nazi party in the world is located here in the U.S., not in Germany or Austria. Does that mean the whole country is like that? No.”
Rabbi Nisanov highlighted the continued ties between Uzbekistan and the Jewish community, mentioning, “There are still…nonstop flights from Tashkent to Tel Aviv. They haven’t stopped.” He reassured listeners that Uzbekistan remains a safe and welcoming destination: “Compared to other places, I’d be more scared to go to Europe. You know what I mean?” Reflecting on the tragedy, he urged the community to see it as an isolated incident, saying, “This was not a coordinated attack involving many people, but rather a few individuals who were radicalized outside of Uzbekistan.”
His message was one of resilience and hope, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong ties and rejecting blanket judgments: “These events are hurtful, but they don’t define Uzbekistan. The general population and leadership continue to value coexistence and mutual respect.”
He plans to attend the World Bukharian Jewish Congress in 2025, and revisit the cemetery of his ancestors outside of Samarkand.
Strengthening the Mezuzah’s Message
«Rabbi Zvi Kogan z»l and his wife courageously took upon themselves the sacred mission of serving as emissaries in the Emirates, where they became pillars of its Jewish community, surrounded by the descendants of Yishmael.
“When the tragic news of the rabbi’s murder spread, I came to understand that his sacrifice ran much deeper. Married just six months ago, he had already accomplished so much in his service to the Jewish people in the UAE.
“I do not live in fear, but with a sense of caution. While it deeply saddens me that the rabbi’s store had to remove its mezuzah, it serves as a reminder for each of us to strengthen our commitment to this mitzvah.
“In the rabbi’s merit, let us each find a doorway in our homes or lives that lacks a mezuzah, and have one affixed there, so that it can be kissed and sanctify the Almighty’s name.» —Signed with respect and admiration, Steven Saphirstein, Secretary of Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills
A message from Jared Kushner
Outside of the Bukharian Jewish community, Jared Kushner mourned the tragic loss of Rabbi Kogan, praising his efforts in fostering unity between Jews and Muslims in the UAE. «Ivanka and I are saddened by the loss of Rabbi Kogan, who was senselessly murdered to stop the historic bridges he was building between Jews and Muslims in the UAE,» Kushner shared on X.com.
He highlighted the positive role of the Emirati government in fostering coexistence and emphasized the shared values that once united Jews and Muslims across the Middle East. «Before World War II, Jews and Muslims lived together throughout the Middle East in harmony for many centuries, celebrating their shared values. The UAE is leading us back to that time.»
Kushner also announced a $1 million donation to Chabad of the UAE to strengthen its work in supporting the Jewish community in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
«We welcome others to join us in this effort,» Kushner wrote. «Let us come together from all faiths to pick up where Rabbi Kogan left off and bring his work, and the work of those building the UAE into a thriving destination of tolerance, bridge-building, and mutual benefit, to new heights.»
Kushner concluded with a call to reject divisive rhetoric and focus on uplifting shared goals. «The constant scapegoating of Israel and the Jewish people benefits no one other than inept leaders who use hatred to deflect from their own shortcomings. History has shown that those who embrace the Jewish people benefit, and those who persecute the Jewish people ultimately face spectacular defeat.»
Rejecting Hatred
This tragedy, though deeply painful, has revealed the resilience and humanity of our communities. Rabbi Kogan’s life was dedicated to building bridges, and his untimely passing challenges us to carry forward his mission. As the Bukharian Jewish community and our Uzbek neighbors grieve together, we are reminded of the enduring strength of unity and shared values.
Acts of hate, no matter how devastating, cannot define a people or erase centuries of coexistence. Instead, they inspire us to reaffirm our commitments—to cherish and protect our traditions, to reach out across divides, and to reject extremism in all its forms.
As we mourn Rabbi Kogan, let us also honor his legacy by continuing to light the candles of faith, peace, and understanding. His memory will forever inspire us to seek the good in one another and to build a future where tolerance and friendship prevail.
I hope to see you next year in Uzbekistan.
Erin Levi