Lev Leviev: “The key is to keep going and push forward.»
On February 27, 2025, a historic event took place in Vienna: the 25th anniversary congress of the World Congress of Bukharian Jews was held under the chairmanship of President Lev Leviev. This milestone event marked the achievements of the organization, which has become a mirror of the history and accomplishments of Bukharian Jews in the 21st century.
Boris Kandov resigned from his position as president of the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada, citing his advanced age. At his request, Lev Leviev appointed Hagit Sofieva-Levieva as the new president of the American Congress. She also heads the Lev Leviev Foundation in the USA and serves as president of the Jewish Institute of Queens. Later, she was congratulated by David Mavashev, the laureate of the international «Person of the Year 2025» award, who welcomed the appointment of the first Bukharian Jewish woman to such a high position.
VIENNA’S OWN ANNIVERSARY
Vienna is also celebrating a significant milestone this year: on November 27, the city marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Bukharian Jewish community in Austria. Vienna became the first point in Western Europe to mark the beginning of a new era of Bukharian Jewish presence in this part of the world.
Although Bukharian Jews have lived in Paris, London, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, they never had a structured community life, their own synagogue, or an organization to represent their interests within local Jewish communities. Vienna was the first to establish such a presence, welcoming immigrants from Israel who initially sought to return to the Soviet Union. However, Soviet leaders Brezhnev and Andropov firmly denied entry to those they considered «traitors.» Over time, these immigrants adapted to life in Austria and later expressed gratitude to Leonid Brezhnev for a decision that ultimately allowed them to remain in the free world and establish a strong, thriving community in Western Europe.
As always, the American delegation was the largest and most representative at this forum, which brought together leaders and activists from Bukharian Jewish communities in Israel, the USA, Uzbekistan, Germany, and Russia.
The congress was welcomed by Chief Rabbi of Rishon LeZion David Yosef and the president of the Jewish Community of Austria, Oskar Deutsch.
LEV LEVIEV’S SPEECH
Lev Leviev, as always, spoke without notes—eloquently, with deep understanding of the importance of Jewish education and the essence of Bukharian Jewry. He expressed his joy and pride in the organization he founded a quarter-century ago—the World Congress of Bukharian Jews—which has truly united Bukharian Jews across five continents.
His speech was interrupted multiple times by long rounds of applause and standing ovations.
CHANGES AND LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
Boris Kandov, president of the Bukharian Jewish Congress of the USA and Canada, then took the stage to deliver a report summarizing his years of leadership.
For the first time in the history of the World Congress of Bukharian Jews, Boris Kandov was awarded an honorary certificate for his contributions to the development of North American communities and for strengthening diplomatic ties between the USA and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Moldova, and Russia.
Founded by Kandov in 1999, the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada became a symbol of unity between the North American communities and Israel, consistently participating in solidarity parades for Israel on Fifth Avenue, supporting theatrical and musical groups, publishing the newspaper Bukharian Jewish World, and organizing the «Person of the Year» ceremony in New York for many years.
Under his leadership, the Bukharian Jewish Center in New York was constructed with the support of Lev Leviev, becoming a symbol of the community’s success and recognition in America.
At the congress, Kandov invited Hagit Sofieva-Levieva on stage and introduced her as his successor. She warmly thanked the American community for their trust.
A touching film was shown, featuring an interview with Lev Leviev by an Israeli journalist, as well as reflections on the World Congress by staff members of the newspaper Menorah, including Leonid Elizarov, Yair Borukhov, and Dudu Bar. The film moved many attendees to tears.
«PERSON OF THE YEAR 2025” WINNERS
«Development of Science and Culture of Bukharian Jews in the Diaspora»
David Mavashev, a prominent philanthropist and businessman in the Bukharian Jewish community in the USA, was among the honorees. He is the president of the Itzhak Mavashev Foundation—an institute dedicated to studying the heritage of Bukharian Jews in the diaspora. The institute was established in 1985 in honor of Itzhak Mavashev, a renowned writer, linguist, philosopher, and journalist who was the editor-in-chief of Ha-Thiya, the first Bukharian Jewish newspaper in Israel, and the author of Folklore and Memories.
David Mavashev actively supports Jewish education, serves as a member of the Bukharian Jewish Congress of the USA and Canada, and was a delegate at both the 24th and 25th World Congresses of Bukharian Jews. He is a major benefactor of the Jewish Institute of Queens and The Bukharian Times.
Together with the foundation’s director, Rafael Nektalov, he has organized five international Shashmaqam Forever festivals in New York and Uzbekistan, as well as art exhibitions and book presentations in Moscow and New York. Every two years, the foundation awards prizes to outstanding figures in culture and organizes international conferences on the language and literature of Bukharian Jews.
At the ceremony, Mavashev stood on stage with his grandson Isaac and his wife Marina, the foundation’s vice president. He expressed deep gratitude to Vienna’s Jewish community president Shlomo Ustoianizov and former president Yuriy Gilkarov.
«Preserving the Heritage of Bukharian Jews»
Marik Moshiya Kalontarov, a prominent businessman, philanthropist, and public figure, was recognized for his projects aimed at developing the spiritual life of Bukharian Jews in New York. He has worked to preserve Jewish cemeteries, commemorate the history of Samarkand Jews and World War II heroes, and establish a memorial complex for missing soldiers at the Jewish cemetery in Samarkand.
A key focus of his philanthropy is the study and promotion of the legacy of Moshe Nasi Kalontar, a historic leader of Samarkand’s Jewish community and the founder of the Jewish quarter «Vostok-Shark-Mizrahi.» Moshe Nasi Kalontar built Kaneso-i Kalon, the largest synagogue in Muslim Asia, dedicating his life to serving the Jewish people.
Kalontarov continues to support the Jewish community in Samarkand, funds community celebrations, and has donated new Torah scrolls to the Gumbaz and Or-Avner synagogues. He plans to take an active role in Lev Leviev’s new project to construct a new Bukharian Jewish Center in Samarkand, including a synagogue, hotel, and mikvah.
Accepting his award with his wife Stella, Kalontarov humbly shook hands with Lev Leviev and returned to his seat, saying: «After Lev Leviev’s words, nothing more needs to be said. We must follow his example.»Among the winners of the competition are two young Israeli politicians — the deputy mayor of Ramle, Avram Djuraev, and the deputy mayor of Or-Yehuda, Zhanna Cohen, the rector of Ariel University, Professor Albert Pinkhasov, and the vice president of the Vienna Bukharian Jewish community, Mikhail Galibov.
Among the other laureates of the «Person of the Year 2025» award were two young Israeli politicians—Deputy Mayor of Ramla Avraham Juraev and Deputy Mayor of Or Yehuda Zhanna Cohen—along with Ariel University Rector Professor Albert Pinkhasov and Vienna’s Bukharian Jewish community vice president Michael Galibov.
In conclusion, the famous Israeli Mountain Jewish singer Efraim Shaulov performed.
As Dr. Maria Mosheeva told the author of these lines, the congress became a historic event in the life of our people, and she was happy to attend it.
By Rafael Nektalov
To be continued in the next issue.
This was translated from Russian into English.