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 Today
the history of Jews is a subject of interest not only for the Jews. And
it's quite explainable. In Jewish studies Western civilization tries to
find a key to its civilization's cultural origins. Thus, post-soviet states
fill empty pages in their history.
In summer of 2004 the Jewish community of Kazakhstan accepted
a number of scientists from Israel, Russia, Uzbekistan, who came to Almaty
for the participation in the Second International Scientific Conference
named "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture". In southern
capital historians, museum and archive workers of Kazakhstan joined guests
from foreign countries. The meeting was organized by "Joint",
the American - Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; Euro-Asian Jewish
Congress; Jewish Congress of Kazakhstan; "Advantek International
Ins." Company's representation in Kazakhsatn; "Mitsva",
Association of Jewish National Organizations of Kazakhstan.
There were 20 reports read out in the course of the
Second International Scientific conference with 50 persons involved in.
The main discussed theme was the history of Jews of Kazakhstan in the
XX century. In their reports the participants used archive materials not
published before. In the connection to a coming 60-th anniversary of victory
over the Fascism, the main attention researchers paid to lives of Jews,
evacuated from Kazakhstan in the years of the World War II.
The first report, listened to in the course of the Conference
was the work of Professor Weiss (Israel) named "90 years" activity
of "Joint"". Exactly JDC, having supported in 2001 publication
of the book "From the History of Jews of Kazakhstan", helped
to make the first step in learning the past of Jewish Community of Kazakhstan.
Some researchers, such as Isaac Grinberg, the head of historical
Club of "Mitsva" Association; Ph.D. Aleksandr Yarkov; Anargul
Zulkasheva, the representative of Central archive of President of Kazakhstan
have been involved in study of history of Jews in Kazakhstan for not the
first year. For them, as well as for their colleagues, being recently
interested in that question, the Conference "Jews in Kazakhstan:
History, Religion, Culture " is a really unique chance to acquaint
people with the results of their work, to hear the stance of like-minded
persons, to get and to share the necessary information.
" The representatives of various nationalities, who
have not known each other before, are now excitedly discussing the history
of Jews in Kazakhstan, a subject which became familiar and comprehensible
to them for months of work ," Nina Krutova, the worker of Eastern
Kazakhstan Ethnographic Museum says. "And we, scientists, are
very glad that our work gets a vivid reply from both Jewish communities
of the world and citizens of our Republic".
The drawing attention of young people to the conference is
also worth mentioning. So, the youngest reporter was Yulia Kozhevnikova.
She is 22 and in the end if July she'll become a Master of Political Science.
The best work at the Second International Scientific conference
named "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture" was recognized
the report "Jews-geologists from Karaganda", prepared by Alexandr
Abramovitch, the worker of Jewish Community Center of Karaganda. The award
to a winner was given by Vladimir Kogan, the general director of "Advantek
International Ins." Company's representation. In his turn, Alexandr
Baron, the president of "Mitsva" Association gave "Advantek
International Ins." a gratifying paper "For a generous input
into the study of History of Jews in Kazakhstan".
High professional level of works on history of Jews in Kazakhstan
is the evidence of the fact that the Conference helped scientists to enter
the next stage in their study of the chosen theme. As the investigations
in genealogy have a positive influence on Jewish self-identification and
promote the formation of the basis for national and religious tolerance,
it means that we can look with confidence into the future of the project
"Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture".
Galina Golgberg
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