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Elijah Mourns the Death of Sheikh Abdulaziz Bukhari

 

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari passed away June 3 at age 61. Over the years, Sheikh Bukhari participated in many Elijah sponsored activities.

Bukhari was a direct descendent of Imam Muhammad Ismail al-Bukhari of Bukhara, the ninth-century author of the Hadith al-Bukhari. Sheikh Bukhari led a colony of Palestinians of Uzbek descent, mostly now in Gaza, who have maintained their Uzbek identity for generations. He died shortly before a scheduled meeting with Turkish PM Erdogan to discuss reaction to the Gaza Flotilla attack. He devoted much of his life to seeking, through working with like-minded Jewish religious leaders, to use religion as a force for peace and agreement, rather than hatred and division.

His devotion to the cause of peace often placed him in a difficult position. For example, when he led a delegation to Sderot, to show sympathy for the population there but at the same time to explain to them the sufferings of his own relatives in Gaza, this attempt to promote understanding drew criticism from all sides.

Here follow the words of memory that were sent to his family by Elijah director, Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein:

Abdul Aziz was the only person in Jerusalem on whom you could always count for the cause of peace and spirituality. Rising above the banality of politics, he was firm in his spiritual vision, always eager to reach out to others and to make a difference. I recall in 2000, just as the Intifada broke out, we started a small meditation group, one Jew, one Christian and one Muslim. We met once a week at the Dormition abbey, and just sat together and prayed for peace - a small gesture of three men of faith. This small and intimate meditation group has made a lasting impression on me.

I followed Aziz's work with Eliyahu McLean closely, and recall with joy his warm and wonderful contribution at Eliyahu's wedding. As always, he was a beacon of faith, optimism and hope for a new life.

The last time we conducted an official program together was a few months ago, when one of the heads of the Brahma Kumaris was in Israel and we held a meeting at Yakar discussing the deeper motivations that inform our spiritual and our peace work. Again, Aziz was the natural choice of someone to turn to for such a discussion.

The longest time we spent together was the 10 hour flight to Bangkok we took together, on our way to the Parliament of World  Religions in Australia. There I learned of some of the hardships and challenges he was facing, and my heart was somewhat broken for all the difficulties, financial and communal, that he had to face. And yet, he faced them with so much cheer and hope. He did not know where he was going upon arrival in Australia, but that was of no concern to him. He would go to the mosque and everything else would resolve itself. A man of faith.

Jerusalem has lost one of its great citizens. Peace work has lost one of its most important partners. We have all lost a friend. 

May the memory of who this wonderful man was be a continuing source of consolation for his family and his community.

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