Over 80 young Bukharian Jews from across Europe spent 10 days discovering Israel, their heritage, and each other
More than 80 young men and women from Bukharian Jewish communities across Europe arrived in Israel last week as part of the “Lev Haaretz” program, the youth initiative of the World Bukharian Jewish Congress. The participants, who came from Vienna, Düsseldorf and Hanover, embarked on a ten-day journey throughout Israel combining travel, Jewish heritage, volunteering, encounters with Israeli society and a deep connection to their Bukharian and Jewish identity.
The journey began at Kibbutz Degania, where the young participants spent their first night before setting out to explore northern Israel. They traveled through the Golan Heights, hiked in the Daliyot Stream area and visited Mitzpe Shalom. They toured the city of Tiberias and visited the gravesites of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes, Maimonides, the Shelah and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Alongside the spiritual and historical experiences, the participants also enjoyed an adrenaline filled adventure, embarking on an exciting ATV tour through the Galilee.
The group then continued to Safed, where they toured the narrow streets of the Old City, learned about the history and heritage of one of Judaism’s four holy cities and visited the gravesite of the Ari, the renowned 16th century Kabbalist. During their visit, the participants also met with Ms. Olga Leviev, who welcomed them for a shared meal and provided an opportunity for a warm personal and social gathering.
On the fourth day of the journey, the young participants moved from tourism and sightseeing to social involvement. They took part in a volunteer activity and afterward visited a Druze community in northern Israel. At this stage of the trip, eight young Israelis from the Bukharian Jewish community joined the group, including soldiers and university students. They continued the journey together, creating new friendships and strengthening the connection between young Bukharian Jews living in Israel and those growing up in communities across Europe.
From the north, the group continued to Jerusalem for a journey through sites of heritage, memory and identity. They visited the Mahane Yehuda Market, the Western Wall, Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl, and toured the Western Wall Tunnels. During their visit to the tunnels, they also met Rabbi Shlomo Rabin. Alongside the historical and national content, Jerusalem provided the participants with a profound Jewish and spiritual experience.
Shabbat in Jerusalem was one of the highlights of the journey. During Shabbat, Rabbi Yitzhak Shamlov, Secretary General of the Rabbinical Association, joined the group. The young participants held a magnificent Kabbalat Shabbat service in the plaza of the Western Wall, accompanied by singing and dancing, before returning to their hotel for a festive Shabbat dinner and Oneg Shabbat.
On Shabbat morning, following prayers, the participants walked to the Bukharian Quarter of Jerusalem. They toured the neighborhood and became familiar with its impressive historic buildings and magnificent synagogues, which preserve the legacy of the Bukharian Jewish community in Jerusalem. For the young people who had traveled from Europe, the visit provided a unique opportunity to encounter the heritage of Bukharian Jews who immigrated to Israel and built their lives there. After the tour, the participants enjoyed a Shabbat meal, and on Saturday night they returned to the Western Wall for the first Selichot prayers of the month of Elul.
On Sunday, the young travelers headed south. They visited the site of the Nova music festival and the community of Tekoa, where they were exposed to the events of October 7 and to stories of courage and resilience from the region. They then held a meal at the gravesite of the Baba Sali, before saying goodbye to the eight Israeli participants who had joined them during the journey.
From there, the group continued to the Nokdim resort village, located at the foot of Masada. After an especially enjoyable evening around a campfire, the young participants set out during the night to climb Masada in time for sunrise. As the first light appeared, they witnessed the sun rising over the Dead Sea and the desert landscape, creating one of the most memorable moments of the entire journey.
The group then traveled to the Dead Sea before continuing to Tel Aviv. There, they visited the Carmel Market and the Jaffa Flea Market and took part in a tasting tour of the Levinsky Market, giving them an opportunity to experience the colorful culinary culture of the city.
On Wednesday, the journey came to an end, and the young participants returned to their homes in Europe carrying with them countless experiences, new friendships and memories from ten days filled with Israel, Judaism and identity.
Dudi Bar, director of the “Lev Haaretz” program, spoke about the significance of the journey: “About six months ago, we planned the first trips for young people from the United States, and announced that six months later we would hold an identical trip for young people from the Bukharian communities in Europe. I am grateful for the opportunity and hope that the program will continue to grow, so that every young Bukharian man and woman around the world will be able to take part. There is no doubt that if we want to preserve a connection to the Land of Israel and the State of Israel and prevent assimilation, this is the way.”
The CEO of the World Bukharian Jewish Congress, Yehuda Bloy, also addressed the participants during a meeting and said: “The World Bukharian Jewish Congress has placed investment in education and in the younger generation as a top priority. This program allows us to create a genuine connection among all Bukharian communities around the world.”
One of the participants summed up the feelings of many of her friends in simple words: “This is the craziest experience I have ever had in my life, especially because of all the friends we already knew and the new group of friends we made. I still cannot understand how there are people who stayed home.”
The journey of the young Bukharian Jewish communities from Europe demonstrated the power of connecting the younger generation with heritage and with the Land of Israel.
Ten days were enough to transform a group of young people arriving from Europe into a close-knit community that experienced together Israel’s landscapes, history, challenges and the richness of Jewish life.
For the World Bukharian Jewish Congress, the journey represents another important step in nurturing a young generation that is connected to its identity, its community and the State of Israel.
The Bukharian Times
