Rabbis and Dayanim Visit Rabbi Zevadia Cohen as Israel’s Bukharian Community Closes Tishrei

As Simchat Torah ended in Israel, rabbis, dayanim and community figures went straight from the holiday prayers and hakafot to the home and sukkah of Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, chief rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo and head of the Bukharian community’s rabbinical courts, the Israeli Bukharian news site Bucharim.com reported Oct. 8, 2026.

The visit followed the custom of kabbalat pnei rabo, greeting one’s rabbi on the festival. Those present included Or Yehuda chief rabbi Rabbi Zion Cohen, former National Planning Headquarters chairman Rabbi Natan Elnatan, Rabbi Binyamin Aminov and Rabbi Shimon Moshe Chai Rachamim, along with dayanim, kollel heads and community activists, according to the report.

The guests shared words of Torah and discussed the customs and halachic tradition of Bukhara’s sages, as well as the spiritual and educational challenges facing the community and the need to strengthen ties with the younger generation. Participants noted that thousands took part in Tishrei events at venues across Israel, the site reported.

“This gathering, at the close of Simchat Torah, symbolizes the transition from the great joy of the festival to toil in Torah, to action and to strengthening the communities in the winter days ahead,” Rabbi Cohen said, according to Bucharim.com.

He told his guests that the community’s strength has always rested on fellowship, internal unity and faithful preservation of its ancestral heritage. The evening closed with a l’chaim and traditional songs of thanksgiving.

Less than a week later, Rabbi Cohen’s mother, Rabbanit Shoshana Cohen, died at 90; she was buried Oct. 9 in Jerusalem, Kikar HaShabbat reported.

This report was translated from Hebrew by Bukharian Jewish Post from coverage by Bucharim.com and Kikar HaShabbat.

Sources: Bucharim.com; Kikar HaShabbat.