• 20th anniversary of Hesed "Bney Azriel: thanks for the doers of good

    In June, the Kyiv ICF "Jewish Hesed "Bney Azriel" celebrated its 20th anniversary.

    The Jewish tradition of charity, which in Hebrew is called "gemilut hasadim" (literally — showing mercy) dates back thousands of years. Helping your neighbor, supporting him materially and spiritually is one of the most important ethical principles of Judaism. As stated in the Talmud: "the Torah begins with charity and ends with charity". Tzedakah (alms, charity), also said the Jewish sages, tatzil mimavet” - will save from death. Already in the ancient times the main forms of Jewish philanthropy have been defined— concern for the food for hungry, giving clothing and footwear to the poor, nursing the sick etc.

    On these principles (and also on the principles of community and idishkajt) the International Charity Fund "Jewish Hesed "Bnei Azriel" operates during the last 20 years in Kiev and Kiev region. Here we care and lavish attentions on the vulnerable Jewish elderly– pensioners, the disabled, victims of the Holocaust.

    It should be said that not everyone can do social work. Without genuine empathy, love for people and a kind and compassionate heart, this profession is not to be mastered. And those who devoted many years of their lives to charitable activities deserve great respect. For the anniversary of Hesed were held several festive evenings, among which we would like to highlight two - the evening honoring of veterans of the Fund and its social workers.

    Veterans of Hesed are the people who have worked in the field of philanthropy for 15-20 years. Among them are those who have already retired, and there are those who continue to work today.

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    As, for example, Ella Shishko, head of the Day centre. This tireless, beautiful, eternally young woman for more than 20 years (she started to work in "Ezrat Avot" preceding the first Hesed) every day creates a homely, welcoming and relaxed environment, facilitating friendly communication and psychological relief of elderly people experiencing lack of communication.

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    For the evening honoring the veterans came Natan Gomberg, Director, who headed the Fund for 8 years from a 20-years’ existence – from 1997 to 2005.

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    During the evening there was a slide show of old photos with the most vibrant and exciting pages of Hesed history.

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    45 veterans were awarded with certificates of gratitude and personalized gift certificates – among them, besides those mentioned above Ella Shishko and Nathan Gomberg were also Rita Vodopian, Lena Semerenko and many others.

    On the second festivity evening the social workers were honored – 51 people were awarded with premium badges and personalized gift certificates.

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    Then volunteers-musicians and artists who for many years were generously giving their mastery to the paternalized of the Fund, played and sang for the awarded. The concert was as always, excellent, professional and memorable: the song "Tvori dobro", Jewish hit songs "A gute voch", "Krenece" performed by ensemble "Nigun" and Mikhail Poloz, fine singing and instrumental fantasia of Alexander Kot, Ukrainian songs "Ash Trees" and "Kyiv waltz", sung by Ivan Malyarchuk, author songs "These old courtyards" and "Bella" of Emil Krupnik.

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    The listeners also enjoyed the world’s hits by Michael Stryjewsky, retro-Soviet hits by Mikhail Poloz and Lyudmila Ladik, children's dances performed by the ensemble "Radosin".

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    As always good were Irina Sidorovskaya and Seraphima Gorelova, who sang the Yiddish song "the Hasidim in America".

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    The highlight of the concerts was an Italian smash hit "Felicita" with the original Russian text and…the Hesed anthem, sung to the tune of the famous "Rondo" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

    In the days of Hesed anniversary its veterans and social workers particularly felt their necessity to the people, and the songs and the music sounded like gratitude for their generous and selfless work.

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    Contact

      4A Londonska st., Kyiv

      +380 (50) 353 75 17
      pr@kievhesed.org.ua
     

    2016 © ICF «Jewish Hesed «Bnei Azriel». All rights reserved. Social services for Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.