Chabad Lubavitch of Uzbekistan
Chabad-Lubavitch in Uzbekistan: Rabbi Abba Dovid Gurevitch's Tashkent mission from 1990, his loss of accreditation and expulsion in 2008, and Chabad-backed communities in Samarkand and Bukhara
| Chabad Lubavitch of Uzbekistan
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Chabad-Lubavitch emissary network |
| Founded | 1990 (Tashkent) |
| Founder(s) | Abba Dovid Gurevitch |
| Headquarters | Lubavitch in Uzbekistan & Central Asia, 30 Shokhzhakhon Street, Tashkent 100100 |
| Area served | Uzbekistan |
| Key people | Abba Dovid Gurevitch (d. 2025); Chaim Moshe Mordechai Shaikevitz; Boruch Avrohomchayev |
| Remarks | Affiliations: Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS; Ohr Avner Foundation. |
Chabad-Lubavitch in Uzbekistan was built by Rabbi Abba Dovid Gurevitch (also Abe David Gurevich). JTA reported that he had lived in Tashkent since 1990 and was regarded as the country's chief rabbi.[1] Anash.org called him "Head Shliach of Central Asia".[2] In 2008 the Uzbek authorities withdrew his accreditation, and his visa was later not renewed.[1][2] He died on 14 February 2025.[2] Lubavitch.com lists six institutions in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.[3]
- Placement: Uzbekistan is listed by Lubavitch.com under Asia. The Chabad sidebar currently carries this title in its Europe row.
Emissaries and centres
| City | Centre | Named rabbi (directory) | Address (directory) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tashkent | Lubavitch in Uzbekistan & Central Asia | Abba Dovid Gurevitch | 30 Shokhzhakhon Street |
| Tashkent | Beis Menachem Tashkent | Chaim Moshe Mordechai Shaikevitz | — |
| Tashkent | Or Avner Uzbekistan | Boruch Avrohomchayev | 7 Chekhova Street |
| Samarkand | Jewish Community of Samarkand | Itzchok Jacobsohn | 45 Respublikanskaya Street |
| Bukhara | Jewish Community of Bukhara | — | 20 Tsentralnaya Street |
| Bukhara | Jewish Day School Ohr Avner | — | 20 Tsentralnaya Street |
Source: Lubavitch.com directory, which still lists Gurevitch (October 2026).[3]
Relations with the community
Lubavitch.com's account of Passover 2004 describes Chabad-run seders at the Beit Menachem synagogue in Tashkent and at the Ohr Avner Chabad day school. Rabbinical students visited Fergana, Samarkand and Bukhara. In Bukhara, local community leaders had been running public seders for 15 years.[4]
Relations with the state, business and Israel
- Accreditation withdrawn, 2008. JTA reported that the Uzbek Justice Ministry stripped Gurevitch of his accreditation, saying he had "violated local registration rules and did not submit proper financial records". JTA noted that in 1998 the state had abolished the Jewish community's administrative office and its seminary.[1] Anash.org says that "after facing ongoing harassment and legal challenges" he was expelled when his visa was not renewed. It adds that he continued to send emissaries to Tashkent from abroad.[2] (Official finding as reported; Chabad-side account.)
- Security. Lubavitch.com reported that security at synagogues was tightened during Passover 2004 after terrorist attacks in Tashkent and the Romitan district.[4]
Funding
Lubavitch.com credited the Passover 2004 programme to the Rohr Family Foundation and the Ohr Avner Foundation, "headed by FJC President Lev Leviev".[4] Institutions in Tashkent and Bukhara carry the Ohr Avner name.[3]
Controversies
- Murder of Gurevitch's secretary, 2006. JTA reported that Gurevitch's secretary and her mother were murdered in June 2006, and that police ruled out antisemitic motives.[1]
- Registration dispute. The 2008 accreditation case is described above.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Abba Dovid Gurevitch settles in Tashkent |
| 1998 | State abolishes the Jewish community's administrative office and seminary |
| 2004 | Chabad-run Passover programme across Uzbekistan, funded by Rohr and Ohr Avner |
| Jun 2006 | Gurevitch's secretary and her mother murdered |
| 2008 | Accreditation withdrawn; Gurevitch leaves after his visa is not renewed |
| 14 Feb 2025 | Gurevitch dies; buried in Nachalas Har Chabad, Israel |
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Uzbekistan
- Chabad Lubavitch of Kazakhstan
- Chabad Lubavitch of Kyrgyzstan
- Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Uzbekistan's chief rabbi loses accreditation", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 13 April 2008. Press.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Rabbi Abba Dovid Gurevitch, 88, AH", Anash.org, 14 February 2025. Chabad-side.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lubavitch.com centres directory, Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara listings), accessed October 2026. Chabad-side.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Passover In Uzbekistan", Lubavitch.com, 16 April 2004. Chabad-side.