7th of November became the culmination of Kazakhstan competition on Judaism "From time immemorial". Winners of first two rounds from all cities of Kazakhstan have gathered in Pavlodar, in the House of Friendship given specially for the Jewish community. From Almaty the winners were Alexandra Artushina in average age group, Nastya Trohimchuk in younger and Evgenie Chugainova in the 18+ group. It is necessary to notice that all participants from Almaty were friends and helped each other to prepare.

And here, since the morning — the third, the most important stage. A stage for the elite who has already proved high knowledge on a Judaism; now they battled for the main prize.

The event was opened by member of Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan, the chairman of fund "Mirkaz" Faina Svechinsky. She has noticed that this year all of us living in territory of Republic Kazakhstan celebrate twenty years' anniversary of Independence and that in Republic Kazakhstan there’s possibility to realize such competitions is given to all ethnoses, and we also can keep traditions and customs of our people.

The president of Association of the Jewish organizations Alexander Baron has read the message of the Authorized Ambassador of the State Israel in Kazakhstan in which the Ambassador has congratulated Kazakhstan competition on the second significant ending and wished good luck. The congratulation was directed also by one of the main sponsors of Jewish centers’ activity in Kazakhstan, Alexander Mashkevich. From himself Alexander Baron has added that this competition is the big work and responsibility for each of participants, after all behind each of them — communities of their cities.

Children worried but were full of readiness to battle for the main prize. And while younger group were withdrawn for preparation, average has started. The first to answer a question and to represent the presentation devoted to the Jewish holidays was Alexander Artushina. Further answers to many questions, set of presentations in the most various form sounded. All cities of Republic Kazakhstan and children from them tried their best. The presentations devoted to world creation, stories of the Jewish people, precepts and revolt of Bar-kohba have sounded.

The second was younger group. Nastya from Almaty told about Jewish stories. It is necessary as to note speciality for younger group: drawing presentations.

Children represented the various moments of the Jewish life — mount Sinai, David's star, the comics devoted to the Jewish history. The boy from Kustanay told about the synagogue, Julia Bychkova from Petropavlovsk told about holiday of Pesah, and Diana from Pavlodar set such simple and complicated question - «why we ask questions about Exoddus?» And thanks to Daniel from Aktobe we learned and about other holidays... It is necessary to notice that the younger group has tried their best mentioning at times difficult, apparently, for this age themes.

And here, a turn of seniors. About talent of Torah tells David Malyshev from Astana, about history of the Jewish family on an example of one family —Evgenie Chugainova... Maria Gruzman from Pavlodar told about Sionism, she thoroughly studied the biography and a course of life Herzel... Nikolay Atran, the professional of Judaism reports on one of Torah books — Vaikra.

And here competition is finished. The jury in the name of Faina Svechinsky, Alexander Baron, the director of Pavlodar hesed Tatyana Slivinsky and the head of project "Shoresh" Alexander Abramovich counts up points and defines the winner. And time for congradulations comes.

Running forward, it is necessary to tell that noone left without a prize. And it is correct: after all everyone has tried his or her best. The representative of organization "JDC" in Kazakhstan Ilana Levi congratulated participants and noted the importance of competition for all Jews of Republic Kazakhstan. Tatyana Slivinsky has thanked Faina Svechinsky for the given place for competition, and Alexander Baron noted merits of the project "Shoresh" in the organization of informal Jewish education.

And here, alternated performances — dances and songs, award contestants. For the will to win, for an emotionality, for the best drawings and a prize of spectator sympathies... Yes, it is valid — after all bad works weren't, were good and the best. But also among first three places there was an unexpectedness: in younger group the third place was received at once by two persons — Nastya Trohimchuk and Edward Sviridovich. Liza Tairbaeva has won a prize for the third place in average, and Evgenie Chugajnova in the senior group.

The honourable second place has been given to Diana Nazartsova, Simeon Guretsky and Nikolay Atran accordingly in younger, average and senior group.

The owners of the main prize and glory of the best experts on Judaism in Republic Kazakhstan have been declared: Arina Ruban, Vladimir Lovchuk, whose report on Jews in the American army has shown not only depth of knowledge, but also originality of thinking, and Valery Gruzman whose profound knowledge about Sionism and personally Gertsele was outstanding.

We congratulate the winners. However, not only winners. We congratulate everyone because all are worthy, all were good, and everyone has adequately defended honor of a community of the city.

The competition "From time immemorial" is one of the main Jewish actions. It’s possibility for children and adults (this year the senior group had no restrictions on age) to show the knowledge, to show creativity of thinking. The competition is made the second time, and it is necessary to note is present achievement, huge, its value can't be overestimated, after all the main idea of such work is to impart to children interest to history, tradition of the native people.

Well, and we already start to prepare for the following — to the third competition!

Maiya Polumisko