This holiday always demands serious and long preparation. Rosh-ha-Shana – is making results of last year and planning for future. Rosh-ha-Shana it is a time to stop and to think over your deeds, thoughts, actions. Rosh-ha-Shana is the days when you need to beg a pardon and to thank. There is no place for unrestrained joy and nevertheless people rejoice and wish each other sweet and happy New Year.

  The Jewish Community of Karaganda gathered in the building of Drama theatre named after Stanislavsky on the second of October. At the entrance all were given calendars for future year. There was friendly atmosphere reigned in the hall. All people congratulated each other and wished A good sign for this year.

  As always children begun the holiday. Festive and at the same time anxious staging telling about the day of human creation, embodying the struggle between the evil and good, and victory over dark forces. And when the smallest participants of the concert who were 4 years only went to the stage, audience had tears on their eyes. It is so wonderful that such babies come to JCC "Shamash", they are the future of Jewish Community in Karaganda! The studio of JCC "Shamash" shown it’s professionalism as they always do.

  Alexandr Abramovitch told everybody about Rosh-ha-Shana and its traditions and offered to fecit the most important commandment of the holiday, to listen to Shofar. For this purpose Rabbi of Karaganda, Meir Sheiner, was invited to the stage and audience, standing in full silence were listening these solemn sounds.

   Director of Hesed "Miriam", Bella Kamenetzkaya congratulated everybody with kind words. She thanked everybody who helped the JCC and Hesed the last year and previous years. And that was with an ulterior motive, as right on these days, 5 years ago JCC of Karaganda begun working.

  Then some songs in performance of Children’s Creative Centre "Perurim" and Jewish Educational Complex "Or-Avner" sounded there.

  Organizators of the holiday prepared grateful letters and memorable souvenirs for volunteers, non-Jewish organizations, rendering great assistance to the work of Jewish Centre. And each volunteer was presented these gifts with words of respect and thanks on the stage of theatre. And also steering committee prepared wonderful photo presentation telling about JCC and Hesed work. And with sounds of Jewish music viewers could see the brightest moments of these organizations’ work. Creation of different Hesed programs, work with clients, pages of volunteers’ motion and unforgettable JCC "Shamash" programs, such as presentation of JCC in 2003, concerts of group "Ot Azoy" in Almaty and Astana, Festival "Freilehe Kinder", different children trips. Everybody knew that it was a bit of these organizations’ work.

  JCC "Shamash" prepared wonderful holiday, but it was not the end of celebration in Karaganda.

  On the 4th of October children from JCC "Shamash" and educational complex “Or-Avner” gathered in Jewish school. Children came here to celebrate the holiday by Jewish tradition. The scroll of Torah was brought out. Guys read blessings, listened to Shofar sounds. On the holiday meal they made Kiddush. And at the end of holiday made Tashlikh. Children treated to this activity very athrob. That was very interesting for them.

  On the 5th of October Hesed clients were in Jewish school on Morning Prayer. Keeping all traditions of the holiday elderly persons were very glad to celebrate holiday all together.

  That was a variable program prepared for Jews by EC "Or-Avner", JCC "Shamash" and Hesed “Miriam”.

Alexandr Kotlitzkiy