According to our traditions, the Jewish Community Center held the ninth Jewish Book Festival (OFEK) on the eve of a new academic year.
In cooperation with Taraz Librbary named after Mukhtar Auezov, an exhibition of book by Jewish authors was organized. Our community library provided books on Judaica, history, and Jewish traditions as well as new fiction publications.
Jewish Book Community Festival is a good opportunity to learn about Jewish traditions and make our guests be aware of them. This is very interesting. It is well known that Jewish writers made a great contribution to the world’s literature including to Kazakhstan’s literature. Jews gave to the world more than 130 Nobel Prize winners (this is more than 20% of the total number), 150 heroes of the Soviet Union.
After the Festival opening ceremony, all present observed a minute of silence in memory of Israeli soldiers who had died in Arab-Israel conflicts for Israel independence. This is an important part of the Jewish history. This year, Israel celebrated the 62nd anniversary of its Independence.
Our Festival is held on the year of the 65th anniversary of the victory over fascism. We could not but think of 6,000 million Jews killed only for the fact that they were Jews. In the anti Hitler coalition army there were more than 1.5 million of Jews, the best sons of our People. We are proud that we, Jews, made our contribution to the struggle against fascism.
Vera Grinberg accompanied by the music performed by Elena Dmitriyeva recited the ballade of Praga and Ronkin "On an unknown hill". That was the opening of our literature Festival.
Our volunteers Valentina Rastorguyeva and Elena Zinchenko presented poets of the 40s - Iosif Utkin, Dzhek Altauzen, Semen Gudzenko, Sasha Chernyi. Library Director Alla Yesikeeva told about satirists Mikhail Zhvanetskiy and Arkadiy Arkanov. Between the presentations, children’s dancing group "Tamir" showed its productions.
At the end of the Festival we watched a theater performance "Happy Birthday Festival!" produced by our community theater under the supervision of Alla Koroleva.
Hesed Director Elena Dmitriyeva awarded all participants with certificates. All school children received school supplies.
OFEK 2010 was held in Taraz and will be continued in all regional cities. We will meet again next year at the tenth jubilee Festival of the Jewish Book!