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Having come to the First International Conference on Peace and
Accord, representatives of American Jewish communities could not ignore their
brothers' life in Kazakhstan. On February 14 the leaders of major American Jewish
organizations visited the Association of Jewish National Organizations of Kazakhstan
"Mitsva", Hesed "Polina", and "Rimon" Community
Center. The visit was of great importance for us, Kazakhstani Jews - the
community that began developing at independence (1991) welcomed representatives
of the biggest and the most experienced community.
The President of "Mitsva" Association Alexander Baron
and the director of Hesed "Polina" Natalya Dorman acquainted the guests
with Hesed programs. Heads and staff of "Mazal Tov", "Day Center",
"Home Care", "Moked La-Kashish" and other programs eagerly
told about their clients and peculiarities of their work.
"Volunteers help us greatly", Alexander Baron said.
"Volunteering is a spiritual basis of mutual aid, and in it is its main
communal value. The more developed is people's feeling of love and responsibility
for each other, the more united is the Jewish nation. We are proud to have such
People among us!"
"There are many things we are proud of", Natalya
Dorman continued, "Today Kazakhstan has 12 Hasadim with 400 volunteers
and more than 300 employees. Each Hesed day is thousands hearts, homes, and
lives treated with warmth of the community."
"Rimon" JCC also acquainted the guests with its main programs,
but in an unusual way. Lessons of the Jewish history and Tradition, the Torah,
Hebrew, and Yiddish were presented in the form of a theatrical performance.
What was it like? Combination of documentary stories with poems, songs, dances,
and orchestral accompaniment. The guests were surprised to know that the show
was prepared by children. Music, family, and women's clubs also took part in
the performance. In conclusion the guests were offered to plant a pomegranate
seed into a pot.
"You will see wonderful fruits when you come next time",
promised "Rimon" JCC director Rufa Boguslavskaya.
The fruits of our labour slake the thirst of community members and
we are always ready to share experience with other communities.
"My thanks to you and your staff for a wonderful and informative
visit. I was very impressed with their work and enjoyed my time with them. I
would like to thank Alexander Baron for assembling a wonderful team. We are
proud to have you and the staff of "Mitsva" Association, Hesed "Polina",
and "Rimon" JCC as part of the JDC family!" Asher Ostrin,
the head of Russian Department of American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee,
wrote us after the visit.
The farewell present of Almaty Jewish community for the American
delegation was a concert prepared by "Rimon" JCC and shown on their
visit. The best performers took part in it. Their enthusiasm, fervour, and sincere
keenness united the Jewish communities of Kazakhstan and America.
Galina Goldberg;
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