Leadership
Rabbi Baruch Babayev
Rabbi Baruch Babayev has served as Chief Rabbi of the Bukharian Jewish Community since 2012 till the present. He is known as a powerful lecturer, and for his caring and positive impact on young and old alike. As soon as Rabbi Babaev assumed his latest position, the Bukharian Jewish Community in the United States began its spiritual ascent. Among his many projects was the distribution of more than 50,000 Torah based CD discs in the Bukharian language.
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Harav Babaev moved with his family from Samarkand to Israel in 1995, where his influence was immediately felt. He received his Rabbinical ordination in 2002 from the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel. After further intense examination by such Torah leaders as Harav Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Abarzel and the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel, Rav Babaev began training as a Dayan.
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As a reflection of his involvement and dedication to Bukharian youth, Rabbi Babayev was honored with the JIQ Elementary School Award.
Rabbi Asher Vaknin
Rav Asher Vaknin was born and raised in Israel,from the time he was in Yeshiva,he was already reaching out to Jews around him. He got his rabbinical diploma in Israel at the age of 22. He flew to many congregations around the USA in order to reach out to as many Jews as possible.
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His first rabbinical assignment was to establish a Sephardic congregation in Orlando,Florida. After that he was a rabbi for the youth minyan at the Syrian community in Brooklyn NY.
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Now Rav Vaknin is a rabbi for the Youth Minyan at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center in Forest Hills Queens.
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Rav Vaknin is well known for his dynamic personality as well as for his knowledgeable and enthusiastic lectures.
His genuine love and care have inspired and motivated many people. He is giving Torah class at Safra Synagogue in Manhattan for young professionals.
Rabbi David Shushan
Rabbi David Shushan was born in Paris to Moroccan parents who had migrated to the city. His parents, Shlomo and Sarah Bracha, embraced the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In the late 80s, the family moved to Aubervilliers, near Paris. Rabbi Shushan, the youngest of four siblings, showed promise early on, excelling at the largest Jewish school in France.
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He then spent three years studying in Crown Heights, New York, expanding his knowledge and becoming a skilled sofer (religious scribe), producing tefilin, Mezuzot, and more. He's also a trained Mohel.
At 23, he married Hanna, and they settled in Crown Heights. Rabbi Shushan continued his studies at a Kolel, teaching Gemara in French and attracting a substantial following. Rabbi Shushan's commitment to learning led to his second degree, "Yadin Yadin," in collaboration with Rabbi Shneor Labkovski. He became known for his skillful Torah reading and teaching style, catching the attention of the Congregation B'nei Avraam in Brooklyn Heights.
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In 2022, he received an offer to work with the Bukharian community in Forest Hills, Queens, establishing the BCteens program for Jewish teens and young adults. He also sought to connect Jewish children from public schools to their heritage by planning a Hebrew Sunday school.
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Rabbi Shushan's influence extends to a weekly Shabbat Minyan at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center, where he inspires young people to strengthen their connection to Judaism.
BJCC Staff
Leon Nektalov
President
Boris Matatov
Vice President
Avraham Borukhov
Secretary
Michael Aharonoff
Educational Fund
Benjamin Kataev
Treasury
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Volovik
Treasury
Rabbi Zalman Zavurov
Religion
Michael Zavulunov
Catering
Michael Yusupov
Social Media
David Kataev
Iosif Haimov
Chief of staff
Heski Mierov
Vice President
Albert Ilyaev
Vice President