In 2000, when Petropavlovsk Hesed was formed, the singing group "Shalom" was organized. It consists of elderly ladies - pensioners. During the last ten years, they have learned many songs in Yiddish and Hebrew, performed at many city and regional events, in medical and academic institutions, often travelled to remote districts to give concerts.

Shalom Group includes Musical Director Gennadiy Plotnikov, Art Director Nina Mikhelson, and vocalists Valentina Skobova, Aneliya Zhigarlovskaya, Zinaida Vazhenina, Nelli Levchenko, Nadezhda Bykova, Lidiya Gatych. They had a long-time dream to visit the synagogue in our capital Astana. The Jewish community presented them with this opportunity to credit the group for their active participation in the community life. The dream came true in August this year. The "Shalom" group was joined by two volunteer cooks - Valentina Ivanova and Lyudmila Feshina.

The trip was made possible due to our sponsors - brothers Yuriy and Rashbil Evdayevs, community Tsdaka and participants’ personal savings. We thank all sponsors, Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Yuda Kubalkin, and Astana synagogue staff for their warm welcome. We have felt that synagogue is really a warm Jewish home. We do not have a synagogue in Petropavlovsk and many Jews having lived to old age never been to a synagogue. That’s why this memorable trip was so important to us! We will be telling our children and grandchildren about it. Thank you all!

Members of the board - Lyudmila Feshina,
Nina Mikhelson, and others