"Joint is 90 years" - that was a title of the photo-exhibition. And it has begun the travel along cities of Kazakhstan since February, 2005. First were Karaganda inhabitants. The exhibition passed in a premise of JCC "Shamash". To the opening were invited volunteers, participants of the programs of Community Centre, vice-president of Small Assembly of Nations of Kazakhstan on Karaganda area Salima Nurmagambetova, workers of the Machinery of Akim of area. From the story about "Joint", its origin, development and work the chief of one of the programs Alexandr Abramovitch began the statement.
During 90 years the American Jewish distribution committee "Joint" personified unshakable determination of North American Jewry to assist the Jews who are in danger or in a difficult situation.
After the First World War the Government of Joint more than once intended to dismiss committee as executed the function. However it did not happen, that speaks, first of all, about what a difficult century have the Jews gone through. At the same time the respectable 90-year's age of "Joint" testifies to constant readiness of American Jewry to reach to the aid of suffering brothers in any corner of the world. Joint works according to an ancient rule: "All Jews are responsible for each other ".
In 1991 Joint began its work in Kazakhstan from visit of Country Director Stanley Abramovitch to Alma-Ata. In 1991-1995 years the welfare activities of Joint carried single character: as gift the office equipment for needs of the Jewish community was received, were distributed packages for needy layers of the Jewish population. In 1995 the first seminar of the chairmen of the Jewish cultural centers of Kazakhstan was conducted under the direction of the representative of Joint in Central Asia Max Wiesel.
So, the start of mobile photo-exhibition "Joint is 90" was held. 65 photos, on which - history of creation of committee. Among them are the photos of 1914-1925 years: the first children's shelters, first health services. At this particular time, in reply to an appeal about the help of the Jewish population of East Europe in New York "Joint" Committee was organized.
The second part of an exhibition is devoted to activity of corporation "Agrojoint" on creation in USSR of the Jewish agricultural settlements and communes.
Section of an exhibition "Help of Joint in absence of Joint " includes a series of photos for 1939-1988 years and tells about the period of the Soviet history, when "Joint" was announced as " espionage, terrorist and Zionist organization ", under orders of which doctor - murderers have punished Jdanov and Sherbakov. The activity of Joint was forbidden, and the next decades packages with the humanitarian help in USSR were sent anonymously.
The final section of an exhibition is devoted to activity of committee today. The photos tell about work of the Jewish organizations in Kazakhstan.
From the moment of a beginning of a mobile exhibition "Joint is 90 " the year passed, but some cities still have not taken part in this march, as boundless space of Kazakhstan did not promote fast movement. Therefore validity of this project was increased, and the exhibition has moved in Aktobe. In April, 2006 presentation of an exhibition in frameworks of the VII international festival of friendship of the peoples "Holiday of the World" here was held. Inside the city the exhibition has visited Regional library, library of club of the builders, in an exhibition hall of library of Pedagogical institute, in a small hall of Drama theatre and in Hesed. It was visited by more than 400 men. Last place of stay of an exhibition became Uralsk. The exhibition "Joint is 90" is first of exhibitions planned by republican Jewish library for regional Hasadim. We hope, that due to such cooperation, still lot of the people will be involved into an orbit of activity of the Jewish Community of Kazakhstan, and the youth will get acquainted to a history, culture and life of the Jewish people closer.