The Jewish community of Almaty met Lag Baomer the most cheerful spring holiday on the nature. Every year, following the tradition, we make a picnic, but this year there was a record quantity more than hundred twenty persons. Youth, children from the program «Children's initiative» with parents, teenagers and even older persons from «Family club» - everybody rejoiced to fresh air and the spring sun.

Lag Baomer holiday is a Memorial Day of righteous Shimon bar Johai who bequeathed not to cry, but to have fun in his memorial day. And our Jewish community tried its best. The kindled fire was surrounded by people who came for the picnic where Olga Drobnohod told the holiday story, story of rabbi Akiva’s disciples and why Shimon bar Johai, author of well-known Kabbalah book "Zohar" said to celebrate day of his death instead of mourning.

But what is a picnic without shish kebabs? Families of Trohimchuk, Ignatenko, Polovinko and other volunteers made shish kebabs nonstop that sufficed all and everyone. And there were sport games also; youth, teenagers and children stretched volleyball nets. There was the quiz organized by Hesed’s director Inessa Chugainova. Winners were granted with prizes. But the main part of sport games, rope pulling, was won by friendship.

This Lag Baomer was a real communal event, noisy, cheerful and joyful. The youngest participant was only 1.5 years old. All generations came for a cheerful holiday. The Jewish communal center unites all, and every year we manage to do it better and better. And after all the community becomes the big friendly family.

Maiya Polumisko