Summer is in its prime but the fall is coming soon. August is followed by September. Little members of the Jewish community have a holiday today. It is almost a month before they go to school but today they were called first-grade pupils. Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters came to congratulate them with this important step in their lives. The conference room is full of people. Only the first row is still vacant, these sits are reserved for VIP guests - first-grade pupils. At the stage there are winners of the Festival Freilehe Kinder and future stars. Children altogether sing the song: "We are little children, we want to have fun!" The kids sing so enthusiastically that everybody would like to jump and sing together with them.

  The ceremony leader Olga Drobnohod says: "Jews have a special attitude to knowledge. We are a people of the book. Today is a remarkable day for first-grade pupils. Let books become your friends and advisers in your lives". Alexander Baron, Mitsva Associa6tion President, came to congratulate the children: "Just recently we conducted Freilehe Kinder Festival. Today elder kids will perform for us what they have prepared for the Festival, while younger children will show us what they have learned in the Jewish Community Center. You will be studying throughout all your life and let it always bring joy to you." Iosy Lebovich, Sohnut Director in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan said: "We would like our children to be better than we are. It requires many good qualities to achieve it. I wish you to study well, be independent, and healthy". Yevgeniy Mirzayev, member of the Board of Mitsva Association, also came to congratulate the younger generation. "You will start a new life, have new friends, new hobbies, and you will learn a lot of new things. New and good always brings holiday to life. I congratulate you on the holiday!".

  One by one, the most important participants entered the stage. Lovely Katya Astrakhantseva made the word "mama" on the magnetic board. Maksim Arepyev quickly found solution for a mathematic case. Gosha Polovinko, who likes to read thick books and play chess, recited a poem. Elina Belenko counted to 10. Katya Mastrovskaya named four seasons in Hebrew. Semen Chernikov loves to draw and mold. When the holiday leader asked him: "Can you write the word "father"?" The answer was: "Always!". Dasha Bezborodova knows numbers and can count in Hebrew. Milana Ismailova already likes to read and borrows books in the Jewish library. Nastya Kleinbok likes rhinoceros beetles, drawing, and singing and does not like … sweets. Veronika Makarova already knows alphabet. Avraam Tkachenko is interested in Hebrew, dances well. Liza Glinskaya draws, fond of sports, sang an English song about alphabet. Samuel Kim learns Hebrew, perfectly knows the alphabet. Rufina Spitsyna recited a poem about school.

  They are all so different but all very talented our first-grade pupils. Everybody got a present from the Jewish Community Center, something which they will need at school. During the game, the children were putting necessary things in school brief cases; they had to choose from many things those which they will need at school.

  The holiday was marked by the traditional after-festival concert. Beautiful costumes, great voices, good plastique. There were dances "Karlygash", "Askery", "Swons", mime dance, songs in Hebrew. The first-graders also demonstrated a dance, which they have prepared in the summer camp.

  Then, there were more wishes for first-graders from the oldest members of our community. Semen Levenberg, retired Colonel: "I am 90 year old. I have recently got fond of playing chess and already doing this for two years. At my age, I am still interested to study. I would like to wish you to learn always!". Eduard Kaukin, former Director of Road Signs Plant, active volunteer: "Sending children to school, we would like them to learn well. Love books, they will make you educated". Sara Dotsenko, leader of a family club Shalom: "You will have to learn a lot. Please remember this holiday organized by Rimon for you. We thank our Jewish Community Center, sponsors, and volunteers". Parents expressed their gratitude to Joint, Alexander Baron, Inessa Chugainova, and everybody who prepared this great holiday.

  And now holiday culmination - everybody is dancing at the stage, first-graders and those who will go to 11th grade while adults are wiping happy tears.

Lyudmila Starodubova