The Multifaceted History and Culture of Bukharian Jews聽
The eclectic story of Central Asia's ancient Jewish community鈥擝ukharian Jews鈥攊s situated at the lesser-known intersection of Sephardic, Mizrahi, Persian and Russian-Speaking Jewish identities. Join us as we discover the ways in which Bukharian Jews have developed their multilayered and rich culture against the backdrop of the changing societies surrounding them鈥攊ncluding Iranian, Arab, Turkic and Russian empires. Taking us on a journey through Central Asia, West Asia/the Middle East, North Africa, the United States and Europe, our discussion will also shed light on how the Bukharian Jewish experience fits into the broader historical saga of the Jewish People.
Born in Uzbekistan, Ruben Shimonov is an educator, community builder, social entrepreneur, and artist passionate about Jewish diversity and intercultural understanding. He is the American Sephardi Federation's National Director of Education & Sephardi House鈥攁n innovative initiative that works to enrich Jewish campus life and young leadership with the vibrancy, richness, and wisdom of the Sephardic tradition. Previously, he was the Director of Community Engagement & Education at Queens College Hillel and Director of Educational Experiences and Programming for the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee. As a visual artist, Ruben uses his multilingual Hebrew-Arabic-Persian calligraphy to build interfaith bridges and celebrate the diversity of the Greater Sephardi world. His art has been featured in international publications and exhibits, including at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan. Ruben lectures globally on the cultures and histories of Sephardic and Mizrahi communities.
