Interviewing Rabbi Siman-Tov Yanetz of the Bukharian Jewish Congregation of Briarwood

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The Queens Jewish Community is flourishing. Look around and you will find that each neighborhood has its own ‘flavor’ to offer in the grand cultural dish of Bukharian Jewry. It is amazing to tour around Queens and witness the growth and development which redefines people over time. Of course, this movement is in large part due to the leadership of each enclave, which is responsible for the community’s spiritual and social needs. Effective leadership really makes the difference between progression and atrophy by connecting the people around a common mission. It is this resolve to grow, steadily but surely, which allows a community to flourish and reach its potential. But a good leader alone is not enough for success; the community itself must be responsive to a leader’s initiative and vision. I am therefore delighted to interview Rabbi Siman-Tov of the Bukharian Jewish Congregation of Briarwood.

 

BJL: Please tell our readers a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? What Yeshivot did you attend?
S.Y: I grew up in Ganey-Tikvah, Israel. After I graduated high school, I attended ITRI Yeshiva in Jerusalem (ITRI- Israel Torah Research Institute) and learned there for 8 years. I had a good relationship with Rabbi Mordechai Elephant Z’tl, who was the original founder of the Yeshivah. I also had the privilege to be very close and learn b’ Chavruta with the Rosh Yeshivah, who is also a Dayan, Rabbi Shlomo Fisher. We learned together for many years, and I also eventually received my ‘Smichah’ (Rabbinical ordination) from him.

After ITRI, I attended Kolel ‘Torat- Moshe’ in Jerusalem, which was under the leadership of then Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and his son, Dayan Rabbi Eliyahu Amar. I therefore received ‘Smichah’ from then Chief Rabbi Amar as well. In 2012 I moved to N.Y, and started to work as a Rabbi in Magen David Yeshiva, which is part of the Brooklyn Syrian community.

Today, Baruch HaShem I start my day early in the morning with Shacharit in our shul, and continue my day teaching Torah in Magen David. Teaching Torah is a great passion of mine.
BJL: What led you to be Rav of your community?

It has always been a passion of mine to be a Rabbi & leader of a Sepharadic community. Mr. Menashe Akilov, a board member of our community, and Mr. Robert Kikirov, the previous president of our community, approached me 2 years ago in search for a rabbi for their shul. It was a great match and B”H that’s how I began my post in Briarwood.

BJL: What can you tell our readers a about the people who come to your shul?

S.Y: Baruch HaShem we have a very large and growing community. Our shul serves the elderly, the young, new families and teenagers as well. Many adults who missed the opportunity to attend Yeshiva in Russia come to our weekly lectures and daily prayers. This shows their strong foundation to Judaism, something Russia could not take away from them. Our community is very proud of its Torah Heritage. Our younger couples that are married with children make sure to send their children to Sephardic Yeshivot.

Baruch HaShem everyone is very involved in our community; we all participate because we feel connected. There is a real sense of Unity, and everyone feels like “one big family”. Our common goals revolve around the next generation having an opportunity to grow in Torah.

BJL: I hear that you were able to revive a once popular shiur after it died out for many years. What other kinds of programs do you have?

Baruch HaShem in the past 2 years we opened many programs in our Briarwood community. For example, our shul now has the pleasure of hearing and seeing so many of its children sing ‘kabalat Shabbat’ on Erev Shabbat. Also, every Shabbat morning our children take turns reading the Mosifim during Keriat HaTorah. However the program that I am the most proud of takes place during Seuda Shelishit. After the elderly conclude the Zohar, the teenagers and children say a Devar Torah on the Parsha while standing on the stage in front of the entire community; this is something so special, a truly proud moment for every father who sees his son follow the path of Torah. We also accommodate our older members. Every Shabbat we have a 2:30 early Mincha, and also have a shiur with Rav Ben Susan from 3:00- 4:00pm.

Our special women’s group holds a Tehillim event for an hour every Shabbat with refreshments. They also have events like Challah party’s from time to time, with different inspirational women. In a similar vein, we often team up with Chazaq to host wonderful speakers throughout the year.
We have many consistent programs during the weekday as well. We have a ‘kids program’ with snacks and expensive prizes every Sunday. I also give weekly shiurim on Thursday nights on various topics in Halacha. This combined with the chulent and kugel Baruch Hashem never fails to draw a large crowd.
Furthermore, about a year ago we began a second Shacharit minyan Sundays at 9:00am with hot breakfast and a Gemara shiur in Masechet Taanit. I am so proud to give this shiur because of how nice it is to see our community members start their week with Torah.

BJL: You have done so much already, but what other dreams do you have for your community and your shul?

Our goals remain the same. We want to offer more and more programs for everyone to partake in. My personal dream is to have nightly Kolel in our Shul. Baruch HaShem the members of our community are always willing to help financially with all the programs we have in our Shul. We are also very fortunate to have as President Mr. Roman Davidov, and all the other board members who constantly devote their time and energy to run our Bet Mikdash Kattan. I would also like to mention that we plan on completely renovating our shul from ‘A-Z’ over the summer Be’ezrat Hashem.
I would like all your readers to know that everyone is more than welcome to join our wonderful growing community. Baruch Hashem more young families are joining us in Briarwood. Our Shul in Briarwood is like a little Bet HaMikdash which brings the light of the Torah to many families in Briarwood. In the same way, I see my role as guiding my community to their Father in Heaven, may we all merit this connection, Amen.