Shana Tova - these congratulatory words sound in Hesed and Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Karaganda since September 27. Very many measures were carried out in fall holidays and first who met them were women - participants of Ladies' club. May be it is and right, who how not the woman should take in the hands all basic preparation for a holiday? It is uneasy - to make an order in the house, to prepare tasty dinner and to lay a celebratory table, to keep all main commandments of the holiday: to light candles, to read blessing and to ask the Most High that all native and close were written down in "Book of Life" for the next year.

Each meeting in Ladies' club passes in an atmosphere of a cosiness, rest and training simultaneously. And always new themes for the further meetings are born. Attending club the women, are enriched spiritually, step by step studying the laws ordered by Torah, bear light in the families, making them rather Jewish.

And September 28 in JCC "Shamash" gathered children with their parents. From early childhood our guys get acquainted with tradition of the Jewish people. Here, at the Jewish centre learn bases of our life, comprehend deepest sense of each holiday.

On the holiday, certainly, the songs sounded, children played games, solved charades.

In one word had fun from the heart. The games were most various and intellectual, mobile, on ingenuity. Each child was surrounded with attention, and it is especially important, as were on a holiday not only those who goes in community centre, but guys of the program Children's initiative, that is those who, on a condition of health can not attend JCC regularly. Well, at the end of a holiday for all participants of a holiday the sweet table was laid, the gifts were handed.

Shana Tova - with these words the organizers of celebratory evening in cafe "Bibigul" the director of Hesed Bella Kamenetskaya and director of JCC Irina Kozhanovskaya met the visitors.

New Year, what it will be for everyone, what will bring? Everyone, who came this day on a holiday brought good mood. And not only songs sounded this evening, but also kind sincere wishes. Well and the celebratory program was as always interesting, versatile, prepared with the large enthusiasm.

Were executed basic commandments and rituals of holiday. Lighted candles, sounded shofar, which was listened by all participants. On a celebratory table - there were apples and honey, celebratory batch and fish. Among invited on a holiday there were also visitors from Israel. It is necessary to tell, that they with pleasure accepted the invitation, as this day they would like, certainly, to be with compatriots to find the new friends.

The special meaning had that this holiday was carried out on means of the local sponsors and charitable means of the members of our community. Great thanks to all of them for that!

At once after Rosh-ha-Shana ten days of repentance begin which come to an end with one of the most important Jewish holidays Yom Kippur. The sense of these days consists in correction of all sins made by Jew, by a confession and repentance. These days on tradition visit also Jewish cemeteries. This year in the Karaganda community was not exception, and if the last years ordered the bus, this year the help rendered volunteers, which by the cars carried everybody wishing to execute this major commandment. We collected minyan, read prays, visited the Jewish tombs. This tradition lives from year to year, and for many elderly people it is unique opportunity to tribute to those one who are not already with us.

If in heart of the man there is an aspiration to clarification there is a requirement for mercy, the aspiration to validity is expressed, for him the holiday Yom Kippur has the special importance. And this day becomes not only important religious holiday, but also universal. This day, first of all, is consecrated with love to neighbour. Probably, for this reason the evening pray and celebratory meal in Hesed this day had for many present the special meaning. It was especially pleasant in this day to accept at Hesed the visitors from America. The Jewish family which arrived to our city with private visit, met in Hesed the kind friends, felt warm hospitable reception, and if it was not necessary to hurry up on the plane, this meeting would be tightened on long.

The autumn holidays in Karaganda were very fruitful. Within several weeks were executed all most important commandments. Having met a year in a creative unification of a community of city, the employees of JCC and Hesed set mood come 5769 year.

Let this year bring only positive emotions, only kind meetings, and joyful events. Let spark of charity burns in walls of Hesed, let each member of a community feel the importance, necessity to this community.

Larissa Brodskaya