U.N. SDGs
By Rafael Nektalov
Coordinator of the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada
The mahalla, a unique civil society institution in Uzbekistan with roots stretching back to ancient times, has long served as the cradle of national values and community spirit. It is within the mahalla that deeply held traits of our people–such as humanism, compassion, mutual support and good neighborly relations–have taken shape and flourished.
Jewish Mahallas Across Central Asia
The mahalla held special significance in the life of the Jewish quarters of the oldest cities of Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan (Bukhara, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Kokand, Margilan, Karmana, Khatyrchi, Katta-Kurgan, Sherabad, Baysun, Termez, and Denau); Tajikistan (Khujand, Dushanbe, Kulyab); Kazakhstan (Turkistan, Shimkent); Kyrgyzstan (Osh, Jalalabad, Bishkek); and Turkmenistan (Mary, Bayram Ali, Yolotan). It also played an important role in neighboring countries in the region of Afghanistan (Balkh, Herat, Kabul); Iran (Mashhad, Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz); and even in Israel–where neighborhoods like Shkhunat Bukhara in Jerusalem and Shkhunat Shapira in Tel Aviv reflect the same mahalla concept.
One of the first historian-scholars to examine the organization of the social and cultural life of in the myriad mahallas of Samarkand was Professor Menashe Abramov of Samarkand State University. In particular, he noted that in Samarkand, Jews were organized according to the principles of community, as evidenced by the names of the streets Bukharan, Shakhrisabz, Huzar, Denau, Sharki (i.e. Mizrahi).
Evolving Under Empires
There were special rules governing the vital economic, social and cultural interactions between Jews and Muslims–these rules underwent significant changes after the conquest of the region by the Russian Empire, and later by the Soviet Union.
Of particular interest is the social experience of Jews living in the USSR, when civil rights of all strata of the population were officially equalized. During this period, mahalla leaders could communicate more actively with other leaders at public and political events, which contributed to the strengthening of contacts and cooperation between the Jewish minority and Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh majorities.
Transplanting Tradition
The laws of arrangement and social communication developed over centuries within the mahalla system–rooted in tradition, legality, and communal experience–are echoed in the community structures established by Bukharian Jewish community leaders in the USA. In New York, they founded new organizations based on similar principles of regional identity and belonging.
For example, based on established regional affiliations such as “Samarkand”, “Bukhara”, “Navoi”, “Tashkent”, 40 new synagogues and organizations were founded in the U.S. that contributed to the development of a sense of unity among Bukharian Jews.
Inspired by connections to their hometowns–Samarkand, Bukhara, Navoi, and Tashkent–Bukharan Jews in the U.S. have established over 40 synagogues and organizations, many centered in New York, fostering a deep sense of community and belonging.
International Conferences
Moreover, the experience of recreating mahalla committees in the cities and villages of Uzbekistan–committees that worked closely in cooperation with local authorities to develop civil society institutions–has been particularly interesting.
Several international Uzbek-American conferences dedicated to this subject were held in 2015 and 2017 in Tashkent and New York. These conferences were organized under the auspices of the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada alongside the Societies of Friendship with Foreign Countries of Uzbekistan.
Distinguished scientists from both the U.S. and Uzbekistan participated, including Doctor of Economics and Professor Gulchekhra Akhunova, Doctor of Historical Sciences Rakhbar Khamidovna Murtakhzaeva, Professor Veliyam Kandinov, Professor Arkady Zavulunov, as well as community leaders from Bukharian Jewish organizations in New York, and rabbis.
Mahalla Revival
It is gratifying to note that when the movement to revive the mahalla as an urban institution began in Uzbekistan almost 30 years ago, its goals extended beyond addressing socio-economic issues to include educational and spiritual objectives. And this holistic approach is especially valuable, both in Uzbekistan and among the Bukharian Jewish and other Central Asian diaspora communities –in the United States.
Of course, there are significant differences, as community organizations in the United States operate independently and are not part of any government policy or program
Since immigrating to the US in 1993, I have returned to Uzbekistan many times and witnessed how effective and multifaceted the activities of mahalla councils are. Today, citizens’ assemblies successfully perform more than 30 functions that were previously the responsibility of local government bodies. This is primarily a form of social protection and preservation.
At the same time, special attention is paid to targeted material and moral support for low-income families, people with disabilities, and lonely elderly citizens. The Uzbekistan Mahallas Association (mahallas.uz), its regional divisions, and about 10,000 citizens’ self-governing bodies play a significant role in improving the efficiency of the work carried out in this area. The well-organized activities of social support commissions are particularly important.
Preserving Cultural Heritage and Craft Traditions
I would like to note the vital role of the mahalla in preserving national values, traditions and customs–an influence that is truly profound. As is known, handicrafts have been flourishing in Central Asia since ancient times.
The secrets of pottery, blacksmithing, handicrafts, wood carving, gold embroidery, embroidery, musical instrument making, as well as animal husbandry and agriculture, are passed down from generation to generation.
Today, as economic activity within the mahallas grows, the production of consumer goods, agriculture, folk crafts, trade, and services is expanding, which helps ensure employment for residents, improve the well-being of families, and their standard and quality of life. The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Family-run Business has opened up broad opportunities in this area.
I have observed these developments firsthand in both large and small cities of Uzbekistan.
The American Diaspora Experience
Speaking about the United States, I would like to highlight the role of public organizations within the Uzbek diaspora in fostering and building community life in the United States.
For example, in recent years it has become a positive tradition to involve young immigrants in sports competitions held by the Turkestan-American Association together with MahallaUS.com, and to engage young new Americans in various clubs.
More than 15 football (or soccer) teams from different parts of the United States are participating in the 2025 Uzbekistan Independence Cup and during holidays like Navruz and Independence Day. The creation of dance clubs for children, drawing, development of chess and checkers after school programs, and the study of Islam in Brooklyn by the organization «MahallaUS» is admirable.
Navruz itself, which–just as in our past life–unites not only Uzbeks, but also Bukharian Jews, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Azerbaijanis, Turkmens, Iranians, and Afghans–has become an event that unites all our communities, regardless of religion and nationality.
In 1996, I spearheaded the first celebration of Navruz in New York together with the Turkestan-American Association, before it became one of the official holidays recognized by the United Nations.
Musical Bridges Across Cultures
An important role is given to the development of joint projects in the field of musical culture. In particular, the International Festival Shashmaqam Forever, organized and funded by the I. Mavashev Foundation since 2012, stands out. The festival features the best Uzbek, Tajik, American, and Israeli maqom performers. (Shashmaqom is a classical Central Asian musical tradition.) The festivals are held every two or three years, in New York, then in Tashkent and Margilan, Uzbekistan.
Music is just one expression of the deep cultural values preserved within the mahalla. Equally important is the community’s reverence for cemeteries. Thanks to this respect, there have never been any acts of vandalism in Jewish, Russian and other cemeteries in Uzbekistan.
The Mahalla Lives On
Today, the mahalla is far from an anachronism. It is a living, breathing, effective model for the development of civil society, continuing to hold significant meaning to this day in the lives of new Americans– immigrants from Uzbekistan and its neighbors.
Our coverage of the UN conference will continue in the next issue.