All
of us know how important a mother tongue is. But sometimes it happens so that
a language "dies". It is a heavy loss, because together with the dying
language, its culture, traditions, and knowledge fall into oblivion. Of course,
many other languages remain. But we should not forget that along with the language
we lose our past.
And
with an aim to preserve the forefathers' wisdom, "Borough" club was
opened in Hesed "Polina". It is a place for Yiddish-speakers to gather.
Our grandmothers and grandfathers had spoken that language and handed it down
to our parents. It explains the fact that those who came to the presentation
did not need the presenter's jokes and anecdotes to be translated. As the director
of Hesed "Polina" Natalya Dorman said "it has always lived in
us!".
Guests
from Israel, JDC representatives Max Wiesel and Natan Gelman, also visited the
opening ceremony. They told us that Yiddish is beginning to be revived in Israel,
too. Many schoolchildren besides for three obligatory languages (Hebrew, English,
and Arabic) can also study Yiddish. JDC representatives were glad to know that
a spoken Yiddish club was opened in Kazakhstan.
One
more outstanding guest was "Nemaha" ensemble, and that evening it
sang only Yiddish songs. The audience sang together with pleasure.
I
think, everybody who visited "Borough's" birthday will remember its
warm atmosphere. Not only the elder generation is interested in the "Borough",
but also members of the "Rimon" JCC youth club. "Borough"
has got its first settlers.
Ekaterina Karatayeva |