Yasmin Pinhasov-Malaev

When 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 at that time. I realized learning about my culture was important and made me more passionate about being Bukharian. 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.

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 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 Russian-speaking Jew. I didn’t want to explain that I am Bukharian, and that I come from Central Asia, specifically Uzbekistan. Today is no longer true. I am proud Bukharian Jew!

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Yasmin Pinhasov-Malaev is a member of the class of 2017 at Queens College.

Yasmin is currently a graduate student at St. John’s University, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders.