Jacob Nasirov
Encyclopedia
Jacob Nasirov is a prominent Bukharian
rabbi residing in Jamaica Estates, Queens
, New York. His family originated in Bukhara
and immigrated to Afghanistan in 1932. He was born in 1944 and at age 5, his family made aliyah
to Israel. After serving in the Israel Defense Forces
and working for few years, in 1980 he was called to serve as the rabbi of Anshei Shalom synagogue, the only Afghan-Jewish congregation in the United States. Nasirov oversees the kashrut
of restaurants, provides free circumcisions, and until recently, kept ties with the last remaining Jew in Afghanistan
. He is a member of the Bukharian Rabbinical Council.
Pomerance, Rachel "Because 'Jews are news,' feuding Afghans make CNN" Jewish Telegraphic Agency Dec. 14, 2001
Bukharan Jews
Bukharan Jews, also Bukharian Jews or Bukhari Jews, or яҳудиёни Бухоро Yahūdieni Bukhoro , Bukhori Hebrew Script: יהודיאני בוכאראי and יהודיאני בוכארי), also called the Binai Israel, are Jews from Central Asia who speak Bukhori, a dialect of the Tajik-Persian language...
rabbi residing in Jamaica Estates, Queens
Jamaica Estates, Queens
Jamaica Estates is a neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Queens. Within Queens Community District 8, Jamaica Estates is served by Queens Community Board 8 It is bounded by Union Turnpike to the north, Hillside Avenue to the south, Utopia Parkway and Homelawn Street to the west...
, New York. His family originated in Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
and immigrated to Afghanistan in 1932. He was born in 1944 and at age 5, his family made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel. After serving in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
and working for few years, in 1980 he was called to serve as the rabbi of Anshei Shalom synagogue, the only Afghan-Jewish congregation in the United States. Nasirov oversees the kashrut
Kashrut
Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér , meaning "fit" Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus) is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha (Jewish law) is termed...
of restaurants, provides free circumcisions, and until recently, kept ties with the last remaining Jew in Afghanistan
Zablon Simintov
Zablon Simintov is a Turkmen-Afghan carpet trader and the caretaker of the only synagogue in Kabul. , he is believed to be the sole remaining Afghan Jew still residing in Afghanistan...
. He is a member of the Bukharian Rabbinical Council.
Source
Lee, Felicia R. "Coping: Afghan Jews Look Back in Sorrow" New York Times Dec. 30, 2001Pomerance, Rachel "Because 'Jews are news,' feuding Afghans make CNN" Jewish Telegraphic Agency Dec. 14, 2001