&January 27 is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, in all Jewish organizations commemoration candles are lit up and people observe a minute of silence millions of children, elderly people, women, and men who were burnt and buried alive, killed by fascists only because they were Jews.

On January 27 young Jews from seven cities of Kazakhstan gathered in Almaty at the Forum devoted to participation of young people in community building. The event opened with making a tribute to the memory of six million European Jews. Candles were lit and people observed a minute of silence for those who were killed and only their names stayed in Yad-Va-Shem museum. Parents of our young people were born after the war, but in every Jewish family there is somebody who had not survived through this horror. Looking at the lit candles, we were thinking how inadequate those intrigues of denying the Holocaust.

This is not the first Forum organized by Joint and Mitsva Association devoted to the issues of young leadership. At such events we do our best to provide our young people with all necessary knowledge and skills that they will need in life and work. At this Forum, there was a meeting with President of the Central Asian Center of Sociological and Marketing Research BISAM, Leonid Gurevich. Our civilization, speeding progress, economic crises, human development issues, personal values - these were the topics the Professor of Sociology talked about. Leonid Gurevich devoted a part of his lecture to Jews in the modern world, true and false assumptions. The young people were very interested in the lecture, it was seen by the questions they asked. Leonid Gurevich’s great teaching experience, knowledge of the subject, use of highly appropriate quotations made this meeting very interesting and fruitful.

One of the goals of Jewish upbringing and education is to return to traditions of our ancestors, wisdom of our People. A new educational project Shoresh has been launched in Kazakhstan. Shoresh is translated from Hebrew as "root". A tree of knowledge will grow from the root. There will be distance learning and in-class seminars. This work is coordinated by a person deeply dedicated to the Tradition, Alexander Abramovich from Karagandy. At the Forum, Alexander told in detail about the new project, which is also called "the school of Rabbi Shlezinger". He also spoke about religion in public opinion and suggested young people fill in a questionnaire "Main Jewish Values". Young people defined their priorities in the Jewish world and decided to add some more questions. Then everybody discussed what Jewish values mean to all of us.

On January 28 the Forum started with a meeting with a Representative of the World Jewish Agency Sohnut in Kazakhstan, Alexandra Briskin. Alexandra told about modern Israel. Her speech included many facts and numbers about high tech products, renewable energy, agricultural and medical achievements. Ms. Briskin spoke in great detail about Israeli education, because the audience mainly consisted of young people. Israeli universities are among the best universities of the world: Jerusalem University, Tel-Aviv University, Technion. Alexandra Briskin’s speech can be summarized in one phrase: "Israel is very small, but there you understand that it is endless."

Roman Spektor, Director of the Public Affairs Department of the Eurasian Congress, met with Jewish young people. The history of Zionistic movement in the USSR, attempt of denying Holocaust, issues of Jewish upbringing and education, social aspect of the work these were the major topics of his speech.

President of Mitsva Association, Alexander Baron, and Hesed Polina Director Inessa Chugainova met with young people at a Round Table. There was a working atmosphere - questions, answers, and proposals. Young people stated their positions, talked about life in Jewish communities in their regions. Fedor Malin (Karagandy), "It is necessary to assess the situation correctly to make the right conclusion." Vladimir Alexanin (Kostanay), "We need new young people. I want our community to be strong." To make our community stronger, Psychologist Irina Zaltsman conducted training with Forum participants.

The Forum ended with an exhibition of the participants’ peer, Dina Utigaliyeva. Her expressive and innovative works placed in Hesed Polina exhibition room made a deep and pleasant impression on the Forum participants.

On January 29 a Conference of Directors of Jewish Organizations of Kazakhstan opened. Young Jewish leaders also participated in this high-level Conference.

Lyudmila Starodubova