From Bukhara to Jerusalem, Part I: Memory, Migration, and Identity

In this lecture, we explore the deeper questions of Bukharian Jewish identity—what identity meant in the past and what it means today. Why are we called Bukharian Jews? How did our community come to Central Asia, and was this name self-chosen or externally imposed? Together, we will examine the history, migrations, and cultural forces that shaped Bukharian Jewish identity and continue to influence how the community understands itself today.

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Manashe Khaimov is the Founder and CEO of SAMi (Sephardic American Mizrahi Initiative), which is dedicated to fostering the Sephardic and Mizrahi ecosystem on college campuses nationwide. He’s an adjunct professor teaching Bukharian Jewish History and Culture at Queens College, with roots tracing back to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where his ancestors lived for over 2,000 years. A fourth-generation community organizer, serial entrepreneur, and social innovator he founded the Bukharian Jewish Union, AskBobo.ai, and The Jewish Silk Road Tours™ in NYC. Recognized for his contributions, he received the “Person of the Year Award” by the Bukharian Jewish Congress of USA and Canada, NY Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36”, and the TimesLedger Newspapers “Queens Impact Award”. He was appointed by the DA of Queens as a Queens Jewish Advisory Council member. He sits on the National Sephardic Advisory Committee at JIMENA. Manashe is an alumnus of the Nahum Goldmann Fellowship for International Jewish Visionary Leaders, the UJA-Federation of NY Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership. In 2025, Manashe was selected as one of 15 Jewish professionals for Class 9 of the Wexner Field Fellowship premier leadership program in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation and that same year received the Covenant Pomegranate Prize for Jewish Educators. Manashe has presented the history of the Sephardic and Mizrahi communities at numerous communities all around the United States and beyond, including in Canada, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Vienna, UK, and Georgia.  Manashe has been quoted in over 500 publications and articles. He has appeared as a guest speaker on numerous podcasts around the globe.