Leadership comes in many sizes and colors. As a community, we face our challenges together, even if we sometimes forget that we are one people with one destiny. Those who take the mantle of community service may seek to guide the spiritual aspect or the social and material needs of our community, and yet the impetus is always the same: forward movement, growth, and actualizing potential. These desires come together in the hearts of those who want to see their community strive; luckily we have no shortage of candidates. It is my pleasure to interview Mr. Ruben Gurgov, who takes time out of his personal life to establish his community.
BJL: What’s your background?
I was born in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, but ended up moving to New York in 2005 when I was 27 years old. It’s been quite the journey to where I live today with my family in Hillcrest, Queens.
When I first came to New York, I decided to try my hand in the jewelry business. Within three months I found a different path. Ever since then, I slowly grew into the mortgage business; I now help people from so many different backgrounds finance their dream house.
It is ironic when you think about it. My home shifted many times throughout the years, and here I am helping people make hearth.
BJL: Do you find a special satisfaction working with your community?
Well, it’s all about the American dream. Many of our community members are growing their families and looking for comfortable residence. Of course, our community isn’t the only one growing, but I do have an extra satisfaction helping family and friends.
The key to it all really is creativity. In this business, we get families with all kinds of backgrounds. Sometimes, conventional banks will turn them away without hearing their full story. In other instances, the families themselves are not sure where to start or how to move along the process. We are here to help every step of the way.
BJL: Very nice. I hear that you are not just helping people with mortgages, but in many other ways as well. Can you tell our readers a little about your extensive involvement in community work?
Sure. I am personally involved in our community shul, which is converting into a full-fledged community center. Though I am the current President, there is a long and interesting backstory.
I bought the property years ago as an investment and rented it to tenants. However, a combination of sudden circumstances converted the property’s use from rental to a temporary synagogue. As time went by, I realized, along with many community members, that the property would serve the public needs very well. I then decided to keep the property for public use, with the intention of eventually converting the house into a full community center.
We brought a Torah Ark and prayer stand into the house along with new furniture and watched as neighbors slowly made it a permanent fixture of their religious life. This has been the story since 2014.
A 20 minute walk in any direction will fail to yield any other shul. Many of the people who are now a part of our community used to abstain from Shabat services simply because they could not find a place near home. I can proudly say that our shul now welcomes 50 – 60 guests every Shabat!
BJL: That many people in a house? It seems like it may be time for an expansion!?
It definitely is. Not just because of the space, but also because our community needs essential services and accommodations. I’m not just talking religious in nature. We need a true community center to cater to our many needs as a growing and unified community. I am actually working on a plan right now, which I hope will address a lot of these needs.
A little while ago, I got in touch with a really good architect who happened to be Jewish. I explained to him that I wanted to convert my property into a community center and he was interested. However, when he saw the address of the property, he did a double take. Our address is 81-04 166 street, and as he explained, it held special significance for him.
“If you add up all the numbers in the address (8+1+4+1+6+6), you get a total of 26, which is the numerical value of the Hebrew Name of Hashem. Therefore, I’m going to do this for free” he said. I couldn’t believe my ears. I asked him again “are you sure?”, and he responded “Yes. This is my donation for this house of Hashem.”
BJL: How did you choose the name of the shul ‘Ohr Ve’ahdut’?
I was contemplating at first naming the shul in honor of my grandfather. But then a Rav told me that if I did that, I would possibly feel a touch of haughtiness every time I saw his name. I therefore decided to choose a name which highlights the brotherhood amongst our congregants. Ohr Ve’ahdut is Hebrew for ‘Light and Unity’.
In retrospect, the Rav’s advice reminds me constantly that we are all temporary guests on this earth, and that what we build is guided and run by Hashem.
BJL: What is in the plan for the new shul you are building?
The new shul will have 2 floors and a basement. The first floor will remain a shul. The basement will have a kitchen and a Mikvah as well. We plan to create classrooms on the second floor for childcare or afterschool programs.
Right now the shul itself is used for children’s programing. We want to give them their own space.
We actually host a Chazaq program called ‘J-Wave’ in our shul at this time. We also have a motsei shabat learning program and shiurim throughout the month. Our Rabbi, Rabbi Nissan Shalomayev, lives across the shul. He makes himself available to the congregants and is very involved in all of the programing.
BJL: You recently joined the Alliance of Bukharian American’s (ABA) Community Leadership Board. As a community leader, what do you think is an important step forward for Bukharian Jewry in NYC?
It’s all about unity, and unity must start at the top. We look to our rabbis for spiritual guidance, and also as role models. I am therefore very happy to see a real effort on behalf of the Rabbis to work with unity for the benefit of all Sephardic Jewry.
This is true politically as well. Organizations like the ABA are working hard to stimulate the community and teach them the importance of being politically and socially active.
It is important for those looking into our community to understand that our people carry a sense of apathy to the political process. This is not because we are indifferent; ask any Bukharian Jew about his political opinion and prepare to be surprised. The truth is that cynicism to choice has been ingrained by decades of fake and thoroughly corrupt government in the old country. But this mentality is changing. For example, I never voted before in my life! The exception was this past special election for Queens Public Advocate, after being politically involved with the ABA.
I anticipate that as the ABA spreads its wings and gains more experience, we will see a very different political outcome, indeed.
BJL: Do you have a message which you would like to share with our readers based on your experiences?
Sure – sometimes you need to be the kind of leader you want to follow. You cannot always wait for someone else to take charge and get the job started. Everyone has their place in life and in their community, and sometimes, we need to roll up our sleeves and just take the initiative. But it is important to remember that we are messengers on a mission. A leader must unite his followers around a common goal and at the same time recall that he is just a part if Hashem’s master plan. I wish your readers a Chag Kasher V’ Same’ach. Happy Pesach!
By Adam Suionov
Interviewing Mr. Ruben Gurgov: Business Man, Community Leader & Political Activist
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