Twenty Years Together: A Story of Building and Unity
Today’s interviewee is Rabbi David Davidov, the respected rabbi of Toronto’s Bukharian Jewish community. For nearly two decades, he has dedicated his life to spiritual leadership, preserving Jewish traditions, and strengthening unity within the community.
Rabbi, how did your journey to Toronto begin, and what inspired you to come in 2006?
At that time, I was studying in a kollel in the holy city of Tzfat, while my wife, Rebbetzin Chana Rivka, was dedicating tremendous energy, love, and warmth to teaching at the Ohr Menachem Talmud Torah school.
One day, we received a phone call from Gamliel, known as Gimi, one of the respected elders of Toronto’s Mountain Jewish community. Gimi was well acquainted with my uncle, the renowned Rabbi Mordechai Gilyadov, who served as the rabbi of Nalchik during the Soviet years and worked to preserve and support Jewish life during a difficult period for religious observance.
Through him, Gimi learned about our family’s history and the legacy of my great-great-grandfather, Rabbi Nisan, a respected rabbi and outstanding scholar in Nalchik. His authority extended beyond the Jewish community, and people of many backgrounds came to him for advice and blessings. His memory continues to be honoured in the Nalchik synagogue.
My great-grandfather, Rabbi Rafram, continued this family tradition of devotion to Torah, service to others, and the preservation of Jewish heritage. My uncle later absorbed the spiritual traditions and religious customs of Mountain Jews directly from prominent rabbis of Nalchik, Derbent, and Kuba. These teachings became the foundation of his many years of communal service.
After many Bukharian Jews left Nalchik and established communities around the world, my uncle moved to Israel. He continues to serve as a rabbi in Nof HaGalil, formerly Nazareth Illit, where he preserves and passes the community’s rich spiritual heritage to future generations.
Gimi told us that Toronto’s Bukharian Jewish community needed a rabbi who could bring people together, strengthen communal life through Torah values, and preserve the ancient traditions passed down through our family. In response to this call, my wife and I arrived in Toronto on Shushan Purim in 2006 with our two young children. We accepted responsibility for the community’s spiritual life and dedicated ourselves fully to serving it.
What did you find when you arrived, and how has the community developed since then?
At that time, the community was only beginning to take shape. Very few families were living according to Torah and observing the mitzvot. We immediately understood that our mission was not simply to administer a synagogue. We had a deeper responsibility: to awaken Jewish awareness, welcome every person with warmth, and create one united and caring communal family.
The Almighty blessed our shared efforts. Over the years, the Bukharian Jewish community has grown into a strong, close-knit, and genuinely united community. Today, our synagogue is not only a place of prayer but also a spiritual centre that connects people across generations.
We continue to follow our traditional Eastern customs, Nusach Mizrach, while carefully preserving the sacred traditions inherited from our parents and grandparents. We strive to pass this priceless spiritual treasure to our children and grandchildren so they will remember their roots and remain connected to their heritage.
What role does the community centre play today?
From the first days of our arrival, we worked to ensure that everyone who entered the synagogue felt at home. Today, the community centre is a place where generations meet, friendships grow, and hundreds of families find spiritual and practical support.
Together, we celebrate joyful milestones such as Brit Milah, Bar Mitzvahs, and weddings. It is equally important for us to support people during illness, loss, and mourning. Many families hold Shiva at our community centre, and during these difficult moments, we do everything possible to surround them with care, attention, and emotional support so that no one faces their pain alone.
During the Jewish holidays, the centre fills with light, joy, and the voices of children. It is especially meaningful to see younger generations taking pride in their community and choosing the centre for weddings and other important family celebrations.
My wife, Rebbetzin Chana Rivka, has played a tremendous role in building and developing the community. As a mother of a large family, she dedicates herself not only to her own household but also to caring for others.
The Rebbetzin gives special attention to preparing brides for family life, helping young couples build strong Jewish homes, and providing spiritual guidance to women throughout the community. Through her wisdom, sensitivity, and sincere dedication, dozens of Jewish homes have been established and strengthened in Toronto—homes founded on Torah values and family traditions.
Thank you, Rabbi Davidov, for sharing your story and for your dedicated service to the community.
