Hesed "Miriam" organized a trip to Astana to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. The desire to be closer to G-d and to practice the Jewish religious tradition during the Sukkot led the Karaganda people to the Kazakhstan's largest synagogue Beit Rakhel.



In the blessed days of Sukkot, the Jewish community of Karaganda city gathered in Astana synagogue to celebrate the holiday in a hut as it is prescribed by our tradition.



The visitors had a tour of Beit Rakhel with a great interest, took part in the commandment "netilat lulav", visited the hut, where they tasted "the fruits" of the new crop.And then we had a festive meal with rabbis.



There is no synagogue in the miners' capital yet. The guests had a long talk with Yuda Kubalkin, Chief Rabbi of Astana. They received detailed answers to all questions about Yiddishkeit. The conversation was warm and relaxed. And Karaganda community decided that they would be coming again and again to the hospitable "House of Rakhel".

Irina Kozhanovskaya