By E.T.
FOREST HILLS, NY – Over 1,200 community members, leaders, and friends gathered at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center on August 13, 2025, for the funeral of 13-year-old Rachel Aliza Nisanov, daughter of Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov and Rebbetzin Ora Nisanov. The crowd filled both floors of the center’s main hall, with hundreds more spilling into the foyer and onto the street outside to pay their respects. The service took place the day after her tragic death on Tuesday, August 12, in a jet ski accident on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her sister, 16-year-old Aviva Bracha Nisanov, remains in the hospital in Florida.
Rachel was remembered as a pure and kind soul who was deeply devoted to her family. Family members shared personal memories, describing her as the «glue» of the family, an intelligent and sharp young woman who brought joy to those around her. One of her brothers shared a recently found note she had written, a simple list ending with a question to God: «Everything is going to be okay, right?» followed by her own answer, «I think so.»
‘Hug Our Children’
Rabbis from across the community addressed the mourners during the three-hour service. One speaker suggested that the tragedy was a «wakeup call for all of us,» and encouraged attendees to «start to appreciate life more.»
Another offered a simple, powerful piece of advice: «Maybe the lesson tonight is that when we go home, each of us should give a hug to our children.» A recurring message was the need for self-improvement and strengthening connections. «Go look at someone that you love and say you love them,» one of Rachel’s brothers urged the audience.
Faith, Family, and Community
In a deeply personal address, Rabbi Nisanov expressed his faith and gratitude for the gift of his daughter for nearly 14 years, even amidst his grief. «Thank you, Hashem, that you gave me such a beautiful girl,» he said.
In a moment of raw pain, he also recounted the accident itself, telling, «I did everything in my power to take my girls out of the water.»
He also expressed his gratitude to the community and the many officials in both Florida and New York who provided assistance in the aftermath: «I express my deep gratitude to the Bukharian Jewish Center for the prompt provision of halls for the funeral procession, which resulted in nationwide grief and nationwide support for our family,» said Rabbi Nisanov, thanking Svetlana Khanimova Levitin and Rafael Nektalov for the timely and efficient information in The Bukharian Times.
Rachel Aliza’s brothers each shared their unique relationship with their youngest sister. They spoke of her quiet humility, her love for her nieces and nephews, and the deep void her absence leaves. They called on the community to honor her memory by being more present and loving with their own families.
Rachel Aliza Nisanov’s body was flown to Israel for burial in Jerusalem.
Visitor David Aronov witnessed that «the doors to the Nisanov home did not close for a single minute» as a constant stream of community members arrived to sit shiva with the family all week. Among them was Rabbi Avraham Nissanian, who offered deeply personal words of consolation to the grieving family, having tragically lost his own 19-year-old son years prior.
Shiva
On Thursday, August 15, Rabbi Baruch Babaev, Chief Rabbi of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada, led a group of prominent community figures on a shiva visit to Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov’s home. Rabbi Babaev delivered a shiur torah and urged Rachel Aliza’s brothers and father to support their mother during this difficult time. The delegation included Boris Matatov, President of the Bukharian Jewish Community Center; Chagit Leviev-Sofiev, President of the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada, and her husband Greg (Gavriel) Sofiev; Congress President Emeritus Boris Kandov; BJCC President Emeritus Leon Nektalov; Aron Aronov, Director of the Bukharian Jewish Museum; Rafael Nektalov, Editor-in-Chief of The Bukharian Times; and Rabbi Yitzhak Wolowik.
The funeral was recorded by Kaykov Media and can be viewed on You Tube.
Includes reporting
by Merik Rubinov.