On the 8th of May, the veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the workers of the Rear came to the Karaganda Hesed, and the employees of the Jewish community centre "Shemesh" prepared a celebratory programme for them. The veterans were congratulated and presented with gifts, and those who could not come to the Hesed had the gifts delivered to their homes.

On this day, together with veterans, we lit up six candles in memory of six millions sons and daughters of Jewish people who did not survive that war. The Victory Day is a cheerful holiday, but as one song says, it brings tears to your eyes.

With their recollections shared former submariner Joseph [Solomonovich] Friedman, military hospital nurse Galina [Naumovna] Cramer, Dmitriy [Grigorevich] [Salop]. They spoke about the Jewish people in the World War II, about the exploits performed by them during those terrible days.

Many congratulations and warm words were addressed of those, who fought for the victory at the front and in the rear. Leonid Moiseevich Meerovich, the leader of a medical program, congratulated all present in a poem which he wrote especially for this celebration.

Some of the veterans of this war are not with us anymore and others cannot go out because of poor health. But in memory of all the veterans, the sacred holiday of the Victory will be always celebrated.

Larissa Brodskaya