The
second part of the Community Festival of the Jewish Book in Northern Kazakhstan
was held in the middle of September in Timiryazevo village. It is the
remotest settlement, five hours journey from Petropavlovsk. Six Jewish
families living there were looking forward to the OFEK. Local administration
also took part in the organization, it provided a premise, apparatus,
and rang round the inhabitants of the village and the region.
This year the OFEK took place in a local school. Members
of the community decorated the school hall with Jewish symbols. Wide exposition
of books on Jewish themes was placed on tables and easels. There also
were works of children who study at "Fine Arts" and "Arts
and Crafts" clubs of the Community center.
The Festival started with a video film about Abraham, the
forefather of the Jewish people. Then the librarian Igor Zhigarlovsky
introduced the guests to the books of Jewish authors presented in the
exhibition. The visitors were looking over exhibits and writing down the
names of authors and titles of books that rose their interest. Then there
was a quiz on Jewish Tradition. The participants demonstrated unusual
knowledge and vivid interest, and were awarded prizes.
At the end of the celebration "Shalom" group sang
songs in Hebrew and Yiddish. They were loudly cheered. The Jewish Diaspora,
OFEK participants and active members of the community celebrated Shabbat
together. Taking into consideration the remoteness of the region, it was
a very important task to associate the Jews living there with the native
traditions of their ancestors.
We are glad that we managed to introduce the inhabitants
of Timiryazevo to the real spiritual world of the OFEK, tell them about
Jewish history, rise their interest to the Jewish way of life and Yiddishkait.
We look forward to new meetings and keeping in touch with the people.
Svetlana Makarovskaya
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