A movable exhibition of Olga Rizhova has finished its work in Semipalatinsk. A meeting of citizens of that wonderful eastern Kazakhstan city with works of the artist was timed to the date of opening of the first Jewish Book Community Festival in the history of Semipalatinsk. Association of Jewish National Organizations of Kazakhstan "Mitsva" and the Jewish Republican library stood as organizers of the exhibition and festival.

  OFEK became a real present both for the youngest Kazakhstani Hesed and for the whole community of Semipalatinsk. Non-Jews marked the festival nor less emotionally:

  "OFEK is a really unique event, a time when one can see not only the outer side of life of another nation, but to understand its hopes and dreams as well", people, coming on the opening session of the Book Festival told.

  OFEK was held in a hospitable museum named after Dostoevsky. Museum workers gave 2 halls to the Jewish community - the one for picture exhibition and the other for organizing discussions and press-conferences.

   A lot of people visited the Festival - Jewish community members, local authorities, representatives of national cultural centers of Semipalatinsk, educational establishments, teachers of art graphics, archive workers.

  The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held on October 1. More that 70 people attended it. Jewish books were put along the walls. Despite Jewish republican library filial in Semipalatinsk is very young, librarians have gathered a wonderful material on history, Tradition, Jewish holidays. The main exposition was Torah scroll, brought by religious program leader of Semipalatinsk Hesed from the last seminar; antique (from museum fund) candlesticks and a Kiddush glass.

  At 5p.m. on Friday, holiday organizers turned off lights, lit Shabbat candles, turned on cantor songs and invited Semipalatinsk citizens to come into the hall and to see works of Olga Rizhova:

   "According to the Jewish tradition any holiday starts exactly this way", Eugeniya Karayakina, a director of the Jewish Republican library explained this to OFEK guests.

  Then Eugeniya Karayakina told guests that recently Jewish people marked a New Year and Trembling Days and the day of opening of Olga Rizhova's exhibition coincided with merry autumn Sukkoth holiday.

  "But beside religious holidays there are a lot of circular ones, including Jewish Book Community Festival", a head of the library explained. OFEK celebrated its 10th anniversary. In Kazakhstan it has been successfully held for 8 years already. This year 13 cities of our republic took part in OFEK. And we are glad that Semipalatinsk warmly met OFEK-2004!"

  OFEK means not only book exhibitions, but concerts and various meetings with interesting people. Guests got acquainted with a wonderful woman and artist Olga Rizhova.

  "My art is before you", Olga told gusts with a smile on her face. "Is it you that judges if you like it or not. These pictures reflect my whole life, my recollections and my dreams."

  Spectators were amazed with techniques of Olga. The artist was set a lot of questions.

  From the very opening day, the exposition has been attended by about 30 people per day. Olga is constantly in the museum always ready for a talk.

  According to critics OFEK has become a really unique event for Semipalatinsk, uniting people of various nationalities and ages in a sphere of culture and art of Jewish nation.

Galina Goldberg