A Jewish camp was working in Almaty during the autumn school vacation. With the financial support of the JDC all finalists of the Quiz "From Time Immemorial" and the most active participants of the Festival "Freilehe Kinder" from Almaty and Karaganda (about one hundred people) were awarded with a week of a cognitive-entertainment holiday in the Resort Samal. Caring organizers prepared a rich and interesting program - a planetarium and a bowling center, an amusement park "Babylon" and a tour the Coca-Cola factory, watching a 3D movie in the cinema, and educational games.

There were interesting lessons with Lilia Golubovskaya of making ethnic hats, embroidered with "gold", "ruby" and "diamonds" based on the story about the history of Jewish costume. The newly made hats were put on by both children and adults with equal pleasure. The children were greatly interested in the teamwork of creating a batik painting "My Jewish Holidays" - silk, stretched on a frame was filled with David Stars. Children also painted with wax crayons on large white sheets sitting on the carpet and the table. There are many ways for self expression!

Musician Ludmila Samsonova introduced kids to vociferous singing of the Jewish prayer "Sim Shalom goods uvraha" and held a competition to test the knowledge of Jewish songs. Each team was required to sing only in Hebrew or Yiddish. It turned out that the children and young people knew so many Jewish songs that even the teachers were surprised. It was already very late when after singing the forty-fifth song we decided that the friendship won. But there were still many children eager to sing more songs!

A school of Jewish Studies was organized by Alexander Abramovich (Karaganda) in cooperation with Irina Tveritneva (Pavlodar). Knowledge is never enough. Our children are always interested in the traditions of the Jewish people.

On November 11, quiz finalists, Almaty community members, and guests gathered at the Schoolchildren Palace for a concert "The Festival is All Over the Country" prepared by Almaty and Karaganda Jewish singing and dancing groups. The audience consisted of people of different generations who were applauding to the young performers with equal delight.

On November 7, we summed up results of one of the most interesting Jewish events this autumn in Kazakhstan - the quiz "From Time Immemorial". Sasha Tselovalnikov (Pavlodar), Katja Chernova (Karaganda), and Paul Semenov (Almaty) became the winners.

The wonderful vacation ended and the children have left for their home cities. But each of them took new knowledge and experiences with them.

Ludmila Starodubova