Nearly 600 Gather in New York to Honor the Legacy of Uriel Kandkhorov

Nearly 600 family members, friends, and community leaders gathered at Da Mikelle Palazzo in New York on July 20, 2026, to honor Uriel ben Malkiel and Burkho Kandkhorov, The Bukharian Times reported. Many traveled from Israel to join relatives from across the United States.

Rabbi Emmanuel Shimonov opened with prayers describing a man of modesty whose generosity rarely sought attention. Chief Rabbi Baruch Babaev of the Bukharian Jews of the USA and Canada spoke about the home Uriel and his wife Nina built—where Torah, the Bukharian language, and traditional maqoms were part of everyday life. Filmmaker Ariel Rubinov screened a documentary tracing Uriel’s journey from Samarkand to Dushanbe, Israel, and the United States.

Son Natanel Kandkhorov completed a year-long study of Tractate Ta’anit with a siyum on the memorial day, saying the Talmud’s call to self-examination and compassion reflected his father’s character. Community figures including Aron Aronov of the Museum of Bukharian Jewish Heritage offered remembrances. Performers including Emmanuel Israilov and Avrom Tolmasov brought Bukharian music into the hall; “Sayyora,” interpreted by Roshel Rubinov and Ilyusha Khavasov, was described by one participant as “our song.”

The evening framed Kandkhorov as part of the generation that preserved Central Asian Jewish tradition while helping build communities in Israel and America. May his memory be a blessing.

May his memory be a blessing—and may the music, Torah study, and open-door hospitality described that night continue in the homes of children and grandchildren who filled Da Mikelle Palazzo to say goodbye.

Sources: The Bukharian Times (Rafael Nektalov; translation by David Mavashev). Image: שירלי מנדלוביץ (PikiWiki Israel) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.