2008 Press Releases
The Congress of Bukharian Jews Recognizes the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism (12/10/2008)
On December 3, a delegation of the Congress of Bukharian Jews of the United States and Canada visited Washington D.C. on a goodwill mission. The delegation -- which included rabbis and Jewish community leaders from New York, Atlanta, Miami, Cleveland and Denver -- met with State Department and White House officials.
At State Department’s 8th Floor Treaty Room, members of the delegation met with the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky, the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Richard Norland, the Secretary of State's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Gregg Rickman, and the Director of the Office of the Central Asian Affairs Thomas Hushek. The delegation presented Dr. Rickman with plaque in recognition of his efforts to fight anti-Semitism around the world. The participants also discussed the recent
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| President of the Bukharian Jews Congress Boris Kandov presents traditional Bukharian gold-embroidery festive gown and the latest issue of the Bukharian Times newspaper to Richard Norland, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan. (The Bukharian Times Photo) |
The Bukharan Jewish Community stressed their appreciation for the opportunity to make a new home in the United States, while at the same time reaffirming their commitment to building bridges between the U.S. and Uzbekistan. They reminded the audience that Hillary Clinton had visited Bukhara as First Lady in 1997, and had been struck by the tradition of religious tolerance in Uzbekistan that allowed the Jewish community to thrive in peace for centuries.
