Chabad Bukharian Center
After visiting Phoenix AZ in the winter of 2021, Rabbi Emanuel and Miriam Shimonov along with their daughter Batsheva were so excited to embark on their journey to service the Bukharian community. They came with the goal to guide and provide a warm, friendly, environment for Bukharians all over Phoenix to be able to learn and grow in their Judaism.
The Shimonovs
Rabbi Emanuel Shimonov
Rabbi Emanuel was born in Calgary Canada. This was where his family had immigrated to from Tashkent along with two of his great uncles and a few other Bukharian families in the late 80’s. (Today these families have grown to BH around 20 families.)
Coming from the Soviet Union, his parents knew little of their traditions and customs. They were thrilled to meet Chabad in Calgary who lead them to learn their traditions and customs, and to dedicate their lives to Judaism.
Rabbi Emanuel spent many years studying. He was in Toronto yeshiva for a few years, then in Israel, and finally in New York where he completed his Smicha (rabbinical ordination).
Mrs Miriam Shimonov
Miriam grew up in Chicago with her parents and nine siblings Ka”h. She went to elementary school in Chicago, high school in New York and then Seminary in Canada where she also did different volunteer work in Chabad houses in the area
In 2021 Rabbi Emanuel and Miriam got married and together they moved to New Haven Ct where Miriam was a teacher and Emanuel worked on his Dayanut (a higher rabbinical degree).
Both Rabbi Emanuel and Miriam’s parents did not grow up religious but were taught and supported by Chabad in their cities on how to live a religious life and become closer to G‑d and the Rebbe.
The impact that those Chabad Rabbis made on their families is having an everlasting effect not only on them but the future generations to come. Emanuel and Miriam feel so honored to be able to help others on this same path with G‑ds help.