Euroasian Jewish News

Kazakh Diaspora's Hanukkah candle was lit on again.

Almaty's Jewish community celebrated Hanukkah on Dec 1. Jews living in ninety towns and villages of Kazakhstan celebrated the holiday of light with us. The light of the Hanukkah lamp is on again for the Kazakh Diaspora. Hag Hanukkah Sameakh!
Kazakh State Philharmonics concert hall named after Zhambil was filled with fusion consisting of shining smiles, joyously glittering eyes, and children's laughing. The organizers of the festival invited not only the community members, but also some old good friends.
The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Zdislav Novitsky, the Ambassador of Turkey in Kazakhstan Cinar Aldemir, the representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine and the members of the municipal administration came to greet the Jews of Kazakhstan. The Ambassador of the State of Israel in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Moshe Kamhi, the Consul of the State of Israel in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Dan Meiri, Sokhnut International Jewish Agency Kazakh office representative Shlomo Azarov, Euro-Asian Jewish Congress executive director Fedor Osinin, Mitzva Association President Alexander Baron celebrated the holiday alongside with their compatriots.
After the Rabbi Elkhanan Kogen had read the festive prayer and lit up the Hanukkah candles, a concert began. The play telling the history of Hanukkah pleasantly amazed the spectators
The story known to everyone form the childhood had a new interpretation now. Professional actors and the children from "Rimon" Jewish center came to the stage together. The inimitable Antioch, performed by the famous Kazakh actor Anatoliy Krezhenchukov, was efficiently rebuffed by Mathitiagu and his sons, played by the novice actors of the Youth club. The inspiring voice of the Lermontov State academic theatre’s leading actress Tatiana Banchenko took the spectators back to the times of Makkavay, entrusting the memory of the descendants with the immortal glory of the Nation.
The audience was sitting still, waiting for a miracle, the miracle that had happened hundreds of years ago, but which has not been forgotten by the Jews up to the present!
Latcases, doughnuts, coins as presents to children and Hava Naguila continued the festivities. Joyous liveliness of the holiday made the Hanukkia shine even brighter. Its light, reflected in the eyes of the community members, was being multiplied rousing the craving of the Jews to be always together. Merry and Joyous Hanukkah to you, Friends!

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