It is the second time that the International Scientific Conference "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture" is held in Almaty. This year historians from Kazakhstan cities, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Israel gathered here. The Conference is presented by Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Jewish Congress of Kazakhstan, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and "Mitsva" Association of Kazakhstan.

   The Conference is devoted to the history of Kazakhstani Jewry in XX century. While preparing their reports the participants used unpublished archival materials. Because of the forthcoming sixtieth anniversary of victory over fascism, special consideration was given to the Jews who were evacuated to Kazakhstan during WWII.

   The first paper to be read was Aaron Weis's report "90th Anniversary of 'Joint". It was the American Joint Committee that promoted the study of Jewish history in Kazakhstan by supporting the publication of a book "From the History of Jews in Kazakhstan" in 2001. A year later the second collection was published and the First International Scientific Conference "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture" was held with the support of AJJDC.

Galina Golderg