- Shana Tova Umetuka! - greeted guests of city festival, President of “Mitsva” Association, Alexander Baron. - Let the peace and welfare gladden us the whole next year. Let the kind actions increase as pomegranates seeds.

   This year the Organizators of concert were: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee “Joint”, Jewish Congress of Kazakhstan, Israeli Culture-informational Centre by Israel embassy in Kazakhstan, and Representative of Jewish Agency in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzia “Sokhnut”, Hesed “Polina”, JCC “Rimon” “Mitsva” Association.

   The celebration took place in cosy hall of Uigursky Theatre of musical comedy. The hall intended for 500 persons was full.

   The head rabbi of Kazakhstan Ieshaya Kogen filled the hall with blaring sounds of Shofar.

  The producer of New Year concert program was famous Israeli singer Alexandr Rehels. That was second concert given to Jews of Almaty by Alexandr. And the second time gift appears not only desired but also becomes an important event in Community life. By admission of creative group working in preparation of the festival with Alexandr Rehels, these several weeks of rehearsals were the unique opportunity to taste his strength.

   Members of Young club of JCC “Rimon”, Maria Kuzmenko and Alexei Korobkin made their debut as presenters of concert. Guys were worrying. The audience supported them with applauses.

   Concert has begun with performance of children’s dance group of Community Centre “Rimon”. And a stage came alive at once. Multicolored costumes and shine of smiles of the smallest participants, girls aged from 5 to 13 burst the audience with applauses. Girls performed funny rhythmical dance, prepared by choreograph of JCC Danelya Spitsina based on Israeli melodies. Next issue was the performance of skiffle-group “Anakhnu Ka” they presented potpourri of popular Israeli songs.

   Then guests were gladdened by: young dance group “Ivri Nefesh” (JCC “Rimon”), dance group of “Sokhnut” Agency, duet of Nataliya Vasilyeva (8 years) and Nataliya Tresvyatskaya (10 years), “Nehama” ensemble (Hesed “Polina”). Finished the concert with performance of Alexandr Rehels. As always smiling and giving gladness to surround, Alexandr invited audiences to dance and sing together. They were ready to do it with pleasure. Singer sung songs such as “Adon Olam” and “Mazal Tov”.

  At the end of the concert organizators - leaders of Jewish Organizations of the city came to stage. Having used children’s assistance they defined winners of lottery. The winner was 74-years old client of Hesed Galina Chernyh. Unfortunately she could not come to stage – “My crutches hesitate the stage!” – laughed the owner of microwave oven.
  
  Holiday continued in the lobby of the theatre. There sounded music. People danced freilehs. Workers of Hesed “Polina” prepared the quiz for children on issue “Rosh-ha-Shana – is a head of the year”.

  Organizators also made everybody to taste apple and honey.

  - Let this year be as sweet and happy as New Year refreshments! - told Jews going away from theatre.

 

Galina Goldberg