Brings Bukharian Women’s Stories to Light
By Erin Levi
The closing event of Festival Sefarad NYC–the United States’ first month-long Sephardic and Mizrahi cultural festival, organized by the American Sephardi Federation in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York–featured a powerful celebration of Bukharian Jewish women’s resilience and strength.
With support of The Bukharian Times and Bukharian Jewish Community Center, the final event took place at the Center on Sunday, June 29, where author Dahlia Abraham-Klein shared her book «Caravan of Hope: A Bukharian Woman’s Journey to Freedom,» bringing a lesser-known chapter of Jewish history to over 50 attendees.
A Story That Needed to Be Told
Abraham-Klein’s book chronicles her mother’s harrowing escape from Uzbekistan to the United States, traveling through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Israel. Born in the United States to parents of Bukharian, Afghan, and Iranian Jewish ancestry, Abraham-Klein embodies the tapestry of Judeo-Persian heritage–and felt compelled to share her family’s story.
«There are no books written on Bukharian women by Bukharian women, so I wanted to share that female experience,» Abraham-Klein explained. Growing up in Afghanistan, her mother didn’t have the ability to write. Abraham-Klein, educated and raised in the United States, felt a responsibility to preserve this narrative «because it’s a story that needed to be told.»
The motivation ran deeper than family history. «I grew up in an Ashkenazi world and stories of the Shoah, and I didn’t hear any stories of our own, because I grew up in the 70 s, and my family was one of the first [Bukharian] families here,» she reflected. «Jewish history started and ended with the Shoah. I think the story of Central Asian Jews is–how did we thrive for thousands of years, sandwiched between [Islam] and Communism? I thought that was a very important story to share.»
An Evening of Connection
Approachable and lively in conversation, with a charming smile and radiant dark eyes, Abraham-Klein immediately captivated the audience. The informal atmosphere she created was enhanced when she discovered relatives in attendance–descendants of the renowned Binyamin Kabuli (1840-1905), including David Shimunov, Honorary Vice President of the «Samarkand» Foundation, and playwright Lyuba Pilosova.
«A young woman, my closest relative, is sitting next to me, and I am endlessly grateful to her for this book, which will help our children learn more about our grandparents and great-grandparents who left Uzbekistan in the early 20 th century,» said David Shimunov, who later shared stories of their common ancestor, Binyamin Kabuli Abramov.
During the book talk, moderated by Ruben Shimonov, ASF’s National Director of Education and Sephardi House, Abraham-Klein emphasized her mother’s remarkable ability to build Jewish life wherever she went. «It’s inspirational–how wherever my mother was, she built a Jewish life. Wherever she went, she didn’t go as an observer–she rolled up her sleeves and brought Jewish life and a community with her.»
The book talk also explored Abraham-Klein’s writing process, her family’s story of triumph against all odds, her connection to her Central Asian Jewish identity, and her mission to showcase the incredible strength of Bukharian Jewish women.
Community Response and Cultural Celebration
The evening resonated deeply with community members who saw their own experiences reflected in Abraham-Klein’s narrative. Svetlana Khanimova-Levitin, a native of Samarkand who immigrated to Israel in 1973 and later to the United States, where she became a leader of the women’s movement in New York as the founder of the non-profit World of Women Immigrants (WOWI), remarked: «Books of this kind allow us to more actively develop the women’s movement in our community.»
The cultural celebration was enhanced by a performance from accomplished singer, dancer, and musician Tamara Katayeva, who performed traditional Bukharian and Iranian songs, with attendees clapping and singing along to the beautiful melodies of their rich heritage.
Notable community figures in attendance included Rabbi Babayev, who addressed the gathering of what he called «the crème de la crème of our intelligentsia»; Michael Aharonoff, former President of the Center; philanthropist David Mavashev; Svetlana Khanimova-Levitin as already mentioned; media mogul Roman Kaykov; Bukharian Times Editor-in-Chief Rafael Nektalov; Bukharian Jewish Museum director Aron Aronov; and Diana Rachnaev, CEO of Yesodot.
Other esteemed guests included Imanuel Rybakov, a researcher of Bukharian Jewish history and current postgraduate in History at M. Ulugbek Uzbek State University; Elana Yuabova, founder of the “BJW Book Club” (The Bukharian Times featured her book club in issue 1094); Rafael Sofiev, Director of Bukharian Jewish programs at the Congregation of Bukharian Jews at Jamaica Estates; Eli Takhalov, a young researcher of Afghan Jewish history and documentarian who managed to visit Kabul before the Taliban takeover; artist Yakov Kandinoff; theater and film director Semyon Aronbaev; community activist Zoya Yakubova; Eugenia Aronova, author of the book “Heritage” and a young writer; and Yaffa Borukhova, opera singer and author and illustrator of the children’s book, “You Don’t Look Jewish”.
The Bukharian Jewish Heritage Museum, founded by Aron Aronov, purchased 10 copies of the book for the museum, which features an entire section dedicated to the accomplishments of Bukharian Jewish women artists.
A Growing Movement
Abraham-Klein hopes her book will inspire all Jews to understand their roots and take pride in their heritage. She believes this is especially important in today’s challenging times as a way to combat antisemitism. A central theme of the evening was the importance of documenting the lesser-known chapter of Bukharian Jewish history that «Caravan of Hope» describes: the escape of Bukharian Jews during early Soviet years by way of Afghanistan.
The event was co-sponsored by the Union of Bukharian Jewish Writers, Poets and Journalists, Kaykov TV, and the Afghan Jewish Foundation, as part of Festival Sefarad NYC’s month-long celebration that featured 40 programs across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, and Queens.
This literary momentum was evident when Borukhova, delighted while getting an autograph from Abraham-Klein, invited attendees to her upcoming presentation of «You Don’t Look Jewish,» her children’s book about the complexities of being Bukharian Jewish, next month in this same hall. (Stay tuned for details.)
«This presentation is the first, and hopefully not the last, time American Sephardi Federation has organized such a significant event in Queens, in the halls of the BJCC,» noted Rafael Nektalov, Bukharian Times Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of the Union of Bukharian Jewish Writers, Poets, and Journalists of the USA.
In 2018, ASF, BJCC, and Bukharian Times collaborated on the Fourth International Shashmaqam Forever Festival at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan.
«It’s a pleasure to see Ruben Shimonov, ASF’s young National Director of Education, here today, as well as ASF Executive Director Jason Guberman, with whom we’ve collaborated for years.»
The feeling was mutual for Shimonov, who added that this partnership was intentional–and part of both the festival and American Sephardi Federation’s missions to shine a light on the intricate mosaic of New York City’s Sephardic communities:
“By collaborating with over 50 communal institutions, and hosting events throughout the city,” said Shimonov, “American Sephardi Federation’s goal with Festival Sefarad NYC has been to create a traveling celebration–ensuring accessibility and welcoming participation from every corner of New York City’s diverse Jewish population.”
Closing Remarks
As Festival Sefarad NYC concluded, the connections forged and stories shared during the month-long celebration continue to strengthen the bonds within New York’s eclectic Sephardic and Mizrahi communities–with Abraham-Klein’s «Caravan of Hope» serving as a powerful reminder of the perseverance of Bukharian Jewish women throughout history.
“What an honor to conclude our groundbreaking Festival Sefarad NYC in the heart of New York City’s Bukharian Jewish community–harnessing this moment to come together and celebrate Bukharian Jewish women’s voices,” reflected Shimonov.
Taking her reflections to Instagram, attendee Ariella Davidov, who serves as the Gender Justice Coordinator at the Office of the Queens Borough President in New York City, wrote, «I’m grateful for this beautiful exploration and celebration of Bukharian history with women at the center.”
“Caravan of Hope” can be purchased on Amazon.
This article benefited from the reporting of Rafael Nektalov, who wrote about the event in Russian in issue 1221, and from the immeasurable help of Ruben Shimonov.
Photo credit:
Roman Kaykov/
Kaykov Media