Bukharian Jewish community leader Manashe Khaimov has, yet again, reached a new milestone in his efforts to strengthen Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish life in America. His organization, the Sephardic American Mizrahi Initiative (SAMi), has been selected for the 7th cohort of the Orthodox Union (OU) Impact Accelerator, becoming the first Sephardic and Mizrahi organization to participate in the program. Khaimov is also the first Bukharian Jew to be selected.
The announcement, made October 7, places SAMi among 8 emerging Jewish nonprofits chosen nationwide for a 7-month program designed to help promising organizations expand their reach and long-term impact.
Founded by Khaimov in 2021, SAMi works to strengthen Jewish identity and community engagement among Sephardic and Mizrahi college students, whose cultural traditions and experiences are often underrepresented in mainstream Jewish campus programming.
Through leadership development, Jewish education, and culturally relevant initiatives, SAMi provides students with opportunities to explore their heritage, connect with peers, and become active leaders in Jewish campus life.
For the Bukharian Jewish community, Khaimov’s selection represents an important moment of recognition within the broader American Jewish nonprofit landscape. It also brings greater visibility to the distinct experiences and contributions of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, including those from Central Asia.
This is not the first time Khaimov, who was born in Samarkand, has broken new ground for Bukharian Jewish representation. In 2025, he became the first Bukharian recipient of the Covenant Foundation’s prestigious Pomegranate Prize, which honors emerging leaders in Jewish education. That same year, he became the first Bukharian man—and second Bukharian overall—to be selected for the Wexner Field Fellowship, a Jewish leadership development program.
SAMi was selected from a competitive pool of 77 applicants. Candidates underwent a multistage evaluation process that included written applications, interviews, and a final presentation before OU leadership.
Established in 2018, the OU Impact Accelerator supports early-stage Jewish nonprofits addressing communal needs, from education and charitable initiatives to mental health and financial literacy. Since its inception, the program has distributed $430,000 to 33 ventures.
As part of the new cohort, Khaimov will receive access to professional coaching, mentorship, nonprofit management training, and early-stage funding opportunities. The curriculum covers organizational strategy, fundraising, marketing, and operations, with monthly virtual workshops and three in-person summits.
The cohort also includes organizations focused on Torah education, gratitude, character development, bereavement support, and community-building.
OU Impact Accelerator Director Tamar Frydman praised the commitment of this year’s participants, noting that the program aims to help nonprofit founders translate their ideas into lasting communal impact.
“These leaders are turning bold ideas into meaningful action, and we are honored to be part of their journey,” said Frydman.
“Being accepted into the OU Accelerator is an honor that extends beyond me…I truly believe that Sephardic communities have so much to offer and so much to learn. This initiative gives us the opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen the Jewish community together,” said Khaimov.
For SAMi, participation offers an opportunity to strengthen its organizational foundation while expanding its mission of ensuring that Sephardic and Mizrahi students have a meaningful place in American Jewish campus life—at a time when rising antisemitism and concerns about Jewish identity and belonging have made that mission all the more urgent.
By Erin Levi
The Bukharian Times English Editor