Hillel Fall 2016_Final 11/16/16 6:23 PM Page 18
VOICES
BREAK OUT OF YOUR SHELL A Bukharian culture ambassador’s tale. BY YASMIN PINHASOV-MALAEV
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• Jewish Life on Campus
If the Bukharian Cultural Club had never been formed, I would not have known that I have what it takes to be a strong and charismatic leader. I’ve learned that I can act, that I can speak in public, and that I can plan initiatives on a small and big scale! I even learned that I am much more “Bukharian” than I could have ever imagined myself to be. I always knew the language because of my family, but until I became the president of this club, I had never spoken it because I thought I wasn’t capable or it would come out strange. I was embarrassed to speak because I didn’t think it was sophisticated enough. Through this process I learned I speak Bukharian very well, as though I grew up in Uzbekistan like my parents! In the past, when I met new people and they would ask me what my background was, I would either tell them that I was from the former Soviet Union or that I was a Russianspeaking Jew. I didn’t want to explain that I am Bukharian, and that I come from Central Asia, specifically Uzbekistan. It’s so important to break out of your shell when you enter college. No one should be afraid to get involved or think involvement is only to build a résumé. I learned why I should be proud to be Bukharian. Whether it’s the clothes, the food, the music, or the language, we are our own people, and although we can relate to other cultures, there’s not a background quite like ours anywhere else in the world. Yasmin Pinhasov-Malaev is a member of the class of 2017 at Queens College.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
hen I started at Queens College, I only knew a small number of Bukharian students. All the cultural traditions I was familiar with were in the back of my mind, but I never “put them out there.” Even though I was interested in learning about my culture, I would just go to school, go to work, and go home. I never expected to be a leader and get involved. I am Jewish, I am Bukharian, and I am in tune with my culture, but I wasn’t extremely proud of it. I was never willing to speak the language and I had never even worn any of the cultural garments. I was introduced to the Bukharian Cultural Club as a freshman when it was only a little learning circle about our culture hosted by Ruben Shimonov, Hillel’s cross-community engagement coordinator. I realized learning about my culture was important and made me more passionate about being Bukharian. I would go and just listen, because what we learned intrigued me. And despite having to run to work just 30 minutes into the talk, it was clear to Ruben that I really cared. So when Ruben messaged me about starting a full-fledged Bukharian club, I took on the responsibility of president. As the fall semester of the next year began, the club planned successful monthly “Choikhonas,” which means “teahouse” in Bukharian. An opportunity to immerse students in Bukharian culture, these events featured skits, games, presentations, music performances and traditional food. Choikhonas became very popular, drawing 50 to 60 students each, gaining our club enough momentum to be recognized on campus as an official club, with 20 members. As a leader of the club, I’ve made tons of Bukharian friends on campus. I know so much more about community. I changed as a person and became more in tune with and proud of my own culture. I am now a member of the QC Hillel Council of Jewish Leaders. Through the council, I meet other student leaders from clubs associated with QC Hillel. I became friends with the other club leaders, and they influenced me to join the Student Association at QC, become a member of the Students for Change party and I am now a sophomore/junior senator.