BJL: The Journey To 100

As the Bukharian Jewish Link reflects on 100 issues over four fantastic years, one is taken on a journey of a community’s spectacular expansion. Each issue has included a lively Mazel Tov section that has become a staple of the publication both in print and on widely popular Instagram handle. It is warming to see that many of the couples who shared their engagement and wedding celebrations are now raising beautiful families. Today, we accept the well wishes and congratulations from those who have seen us grow and impact the lives of the community they cherish so dearly.

The BJL was designed as a unifying agent for the vast array of organizations, batei midrashot, and yeshivot that educate each of us at whatever point in our lives we may find ourselves. As a community we watched the continued development of bodies such as the Agudath Israel of America, Alliance of Bukharian Americas, Chaverim of Queens, Chazaq Organization, Chickens for Shabbos, Emet Outreach, Midrash Ben Ish Hai, Netzach Outreach, Orthodox Union, Queens Borough Safety Patrol – Shmira, Queens Hatzolah, Queens Jewish Community Council, amongst others. We regularly highlighted the progress of the Beth Gavriel Community Center and its affiliate mikvah, Bukharian Jewish Congregation of Briarwood, Kehilat Sephardim, Congregation Ohr HaTorah, Cong. Ner Mordechai, Od Yosef Hai, Ohel Simcha, Ohr Natan of Rego Park and Briarwood, as well as many others. We underlined the advancements of yeshivah education in institutions like Beis Medrash Gedolah of Queens, Be’er Hagolah, Hadar Bet Yaakov, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Yeshivat Ohr Haiim, Yeshivat Sha’arei Zion, Midrash L’man Achi, Mesivta Tiferet Torah, Yeshiva Tiferet Tzion, and various others. We focused on the lives of our rabbinical leaders like the Kaliver Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Amar, Rav Yigal Haimoff, Rav David Yosef, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, Rabbi Meir Gavriel Elbaz, Rabbi Mordechai Fishman, Rabbi Mordechai German, Rabbi Nissan Shalomayev, Rabbi Siman-Tov Yanetz, Rabbi Hertzel Hillel Yitzchak, and community activists like Joseph Alishaev, Ruben Gurgov, Emanuil Kalendarev, Simcha Musheyev, Shimi Pelman.

Each edition we were brought inspiration from Rav Yitzchak Yisraeli, Chief Rabbi of the USA and Canada, and Rabbi Emmanuel Shimonov in our highly regarded Russian section. We also used the pages of the BJL to mourn those who hold our history and helped us establish our vibrant communities. Often these remembrances were for lay leaders or ordinary men and women that inspired those closest to them. Some that come to mind include Gavriel Alishayev, z”l, Daniel Pinchasov, z”l, Eduard Nektalov, z”l, Efrat Haimoff, a”h, Yaffa Koptiev, a”h, and Miriam Elishaev, a”h.

However, there were times when we memorialized our rabbinical visionaries who completed their purpose in this world. These creative minds included Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, Rabbi Ya’aqob Menashe, zt”l, Rav Mordechai Rachminov, zt”l, Rav Aharon Walkin, zt”l, and Rabbanit Ruth Menashe, a”h.

Other times we placed a focus on aspiring political leaders and watched as they marked their place in our neighborhoods. Some of these electeds included State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Council Member Karen Koslowitz, and Assembly Member Daniel Rosenthal.

Additionally, we engaged our readership in thought provoking parenting tips, health awareness, relationship advice, and of course breaking news, and exciting current events. We also gained recognition for highlighting the dire problem at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

But, we would never have made it onto the map were it not for our parent publication the Queens Jewish Link, dedicated advertisers, patrons and of course you our trusted readers. On to the next 100!