"Holiday Sukkoth make seven days … and be glad in
a holiday yours, you, both your son, and your daughter …"
(Dvarim, 16:13,14).

The holiday Sukkoth has the large national and historical meaning. Executing commandment "to live seven days in a tent", we reflect on a role, which the exodus from Egypt played in destiny of the Jewish people.

The Jews of Astana carried out in honor of Sukkoth two separate meals: for the adult and children. But, unfortunately, because of bad weather the community could not go away on a nature and construct sukka. The holiday passed in walls of Hesed, where it is always cosy. As the second day of Sukkoth this year fell on Shabbat, the people met also Empress Saturday: lit candles, read a pray. And then comes time of Shabbat songs. After "Shalom aleikhem" and "Leha Dodi", "Jewish eyes", "Comes Shabbat" "Od avinu hai", "David Meleh Israel", "Hava Nagila", "Eveinu shalom".

This day at celebratory table spoke about Feast of Tabernacles, and many thought over to what kind of plants they belong in their religious sense: Lulav, etrog, arava or hadas? Probably someone was to look at the world in a new way an idea that he resembles on arava - in spiritual sense it means an belonging of the Jew to that group of the people, which do not know Tora and do not observe its commandments as the given plant has neither aroma, nor smell. But the story-tellers, conducting a holiday, reminded to the present, that despite of anything, the Most High does not forget about anybody of his sons.

At the celebratory table, being pleased that they are together, sit the people of different ages. The songs of the last years sounds - "Gardens blossom" from repertoire of Anna German etc. As fathers, whose youth passed under sounds of these melodies, and also youth liked these songs. And therefore, taking opportunity, we would like to express huge gratitude to volunteer of Hesed Nina Levina for a gift made for Community Center of Astana - 14 collections of songs of the last years! Among them are: songs of cinema and radio 1991, 1987, 1976, 1974, 1967, 1963, 1969, and also "Songs from repertoire of Anna German".

The holiday for children also passed in walls of Hesed. The guys, having divided into pairs, and who wanted and independently, built tents. And, construct mini-sukka children the second year, and each time they like it more and more. In the beginning of meeting they, practically by chorus, asked: "And shall we build the tents?" After such thing, adults just had no right to refuse! Children have run out in a court yard, collected branches, leaves, even found somewhere cones.

And then there was an exhibition of tents! They marked successful work with tasty "pieces" - parents do not cease to please - compote for "Shatil", grapes from a summer residence, cookies, sweet, wafers! At children, probably, many forces were spent for games, development of the plan and construction of tents, organism required calories - tasty things quickly disappeared from a table.

Three generations celebrated Sukkoth - different life, destiny, perception - the different history - but Hesed and JCC enables to observe Traditions. Hag Sameakh!!!

Dina Itkina