Mitsva Association published the ninth research book on Jewish history in Kazakhstan. On December 30 in the Community Center Rimon, a presentation of the Isaak Gringberg book "Jews in Almaty" was held. One day before the New Year holiday, forty people came to learn about the new publication. There were Mitsva Association President Alexander Baron, Hesed Director Inessa Chugainova, and Director of Republican Jewish Library Galina Korobkina.


The book was presented by Alexander Baron, President of Mitsva Association, who said, "Our research began with analyzing our memories. We see how people are leaving this world, those who had not only done a lot for our Republic but who were originators of Kazakhstan’s science and art. We would like to preserve their names in our memory. In Soviet era, eleven Kazakhstani Jews were actual members of the Science Academy of the USSR. Each of them was a great figure in the science he was working at. They created scientific-research institutions, supervised space research."


Our goal will be fulfilled only when we write about every Kazakhstani Jew. The first to come to Kazakhstan were Jews-Cantonists from the Tsar Army in the XIX century. Just in Semipalatinsk there were 3 synagogues. Great influx of Jews to Kazakhstan was determined by Stalinist repressions and war evacuation. According to the archive data, during the war over a million Jews were evacuated to Kazakhstan. Highly qualified teachers staff at Karaganda and Akmolinsk medical universities resulted in the "doctors’ case". The last wave of Jews coming to Kazakhstan was due to the development of virgin lands.


To speak about the book the floor was given to Hesed Director Inessa Chugainova, Volunteers Svetlana Nezhinskaya and Lyudmila Tokar. The New edition of the development of Jewish community of Almaty caused a lot of interest. There is a plan to make the book presentation for a general audience at one of the largest libraries of the city.

Victoria Vlasova