Since September 1 up to October 1 the community in Aktobe celebrated OFEK-2004. A famous statement "Jews - nation of book" became a motto of this year.

   Within this time our Hesed held a number of discussions, lectures, exhibitions. Big work was done by our city filial of the Jewish republican library.

   "10 confessing days before Rosh-ha-Shannah" - that was the name of an exhibition, held in Hesed on the eve of Rosh-Ha-Shannah. Various attributes, books, paintings - all these told the auditorium about Jewish New Year customs.

  Such lectures as "Jews and Christians", "Purity in family life", "Jewish questions in soviet literature" were very popular. Nor less attention was paid to children during the holiday.

  A living interest from the side of children was invoked by a quiz "What is to be Jewish". That quiz was held in discussion form. The participants were talking about such notions as Jews and Sons of Israel.

  During festival lectures everyone talked about the peculiarities of Jewish cooking.

  As a librarian Nina Soboleva told, festival is a holiday of culture and a reason to demonstrate that we are united with the Jewish nation and respect the Tradition of our forefathers.

Dmitriy Matveev