Euroasian Jewish News

The I-st International Conference "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture" took place in Almaty under the aegi

Since 12th till 13th of November the I-st International Conference "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture" took place in Almaty under the aegis of the Jewish Association of National Organizations "Mitsva" and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. On behalf of the Conference organizers the Head of "Mitsva" Association and a member of the General EAJC Council, Alexander Baron, welcomed the participants.
The theme, which has been practically unexplored by now, became the subject of discussion. If earlier 2 collections of articles ("History of Jews in Kazakhstan") published by the historical center of "Mitsva" Association and by the "Rimon" Communal Center concerned only pre-Revolutionary period the reports submitted at the Conference revealed the Soviet epoch.
In opinion of participants of the Conference, Jews of Kazakhstan actively promoted development of economy, science and culture of the republic during the times of the USSR. The reports of Alexander Abramovich "The role of Jews in development of the Karaganda Coal basin"; "History of the Karaganda Medical Institute" by Woolf Brejdo; "Role of Jews in creation of industrial potential of the Southern Kazakhstan area" by Nadezhda Krasikova and other researchers named lots of Kazakhstan Jews: heads of industrial production, scientists, teachers, art workers, etc.
In total there were read 25 reports. In aggregate these messages have revealed the impressing picture of activity of Jews of Kazakhstan in different time. Participants of the Conference represented not only cities and areas of Kazakhstan, but also those of Russia, Kyrghyzstan, Uzbekistan and Israel. They have emphasized in reports that no serious displays of anti-Semitism ever occurred in Kazakhstan.
In the final document of the Conference it was decided to conduct permanent research of history of Jews of Kazakhstan on revealing of corresponding archival documents, articles publications and documentary materials.
All materials of the I-st International Conference "Jews in Kazakhstan: History, Religion, Culture" will be published in the separate collection.
According to Alexander Baron, the next conference devoted to migratory processes of Jews of Kazakhstan and Central Asia is planned to be carried out in a year.

EAJC Public Relations and Media Department