We are always interested to learn how Jews live in other parts of the world. Our guest, Carolee Danz, came from Seattle to Almaty as a tourist. She found time in the busy schedule of her trip to come to our Jewish community to meet local Jews who are proud to be Jews. On May 5 Carolee Danz came to the Jewish Community of Almaty. She said, "I would like to see what interesting is going on. I would like to contribute the community development, help the poor, and help elderly people".

Director of the Republican Jewish Library Galina Korobkina told about new books presented by Joint. Director of Hesed Polina, Inessa Chugainova, showed the guest around. We started at the exhibition center where children’s works of arts are currently displayed. In the Day Center Carolee talked to clients. Director of the Medical Program, Sima Branovich, said that there are 50 medical doctors - volunteers working in the program who counsel Hesed clients. Zhanna Danilenko, Director of Children’s Initiative Program, talked about the Program’s work with socially underprivileged families. Carolee Danz also met Directors of Home Care, Rehabilitation Equipment, and Volunteers Programs. Carolee participated at the meeting of the Retro Club "7:40".

Then we showed Carolee around Jewish Almaty - an old synagogue, grave of Levy-Itshaka Shneerson, which is one the city’s sacred places, and a new Orthodox synagogue, where Carolee told us, "I am a rebel. I am a reformist".

Carolee Danz visited Hesed client Zinaida Ilinichna Yakobson who told the guest about her difficult life: She is 77 years old, alone she brought up two daughters and a granddaughter. Her elder daughter, who had been living with her, died in December 2009. Her granddaughter is currently serves in the Israeli Army. The younger daughter, due to some psychological problems, does not want to have any relations with the mother. Only Hesed helps Zinaida Yakobson.

We were surprised to learn that beautiful and well-groomed Carollee is almost the same age as Zinaida Yakobson. Besides we learned that Carolee loves languages, she speaks English, Spanish, and French, reads in Hebrew.

We had a long conversation about what we have in common in our communities and what is different. There are about 50,000 Jews living in Kazakhstan. While in Seattle, there are 12,000 Jewish families, which are also about 50,000 people. Our community is a young organization (despite the fact that Jews have been living in our city since mid XIX century), while Jewish Community of Seattle exists for more than 120 years. Seattle community has Programs that our clients can only dream about! It includes a nursing home with full medical service. It is totally financed by the Jewish community. Carolee’s family always was actively involved in the community activities. One of their community services is a food bank that includes kosher and non-kosher food. There are programs for adult disabled people that provide housing, home care and meals on wheels. There are well developed programs for elderly people including a day center, home care, and meals on wheels. There is a Devora Project that identifies and prevents women abuse by spouses. Program "Hannukah - tsdaka" organizes anonymous distribution of gifts for children from needy families. There are many programs for young people to learn Jewish traditions, special classes for families where one of the spouses is not Jewish. There are summer family camps, where children and parents spend together a week in Israel, they do everything together - cook, swim, dance together.

Carolee impressed us. She would often say "I love Internet!" In our country not many elderly women are able to say the same. We are happy to have met and got to know Carolee.

Lyudmila Starodubova