Volunteer Shabbat
On December 12, the Karaganda community held a special Volunteer Shabbat, bringing together eight of the most active participants around traditions, meaning, and concrete acts of kindness.
On December 12, the Karaganda community hosted a Shabbat for the most active volunteers, with 8 participants ready to turn the wise words of the Torah into good deeds.
The gathering began with welcoming Shabbat. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, perfect for conversation. Volunteers lit the candles, discussed their symbolism, and then moved on to exploring the weekly Torah portion with Karina Makarenko-Ivanova. Participants shared personal reflections, asked questions, debated, and sought meanings relevant to today’s life and volunteer work.
After the discussion, the volunteers prepared Hanukkah gift packages for elderly and less mobile members of the community. All necessary items were purchased in advance, and contributions were collected from community members. The festive packages included oil, pomegranates, sufganiyot (Hanukkah donuts), Hanukkah sets of 44 candles, tabletop Hanukkiahs, and holiday stickers — everything needed to create a feeling of care, celebration, and support.
Once the gift packages were ready, volunteers assigned recipient addresses and organized delivery plans to ensure that every client received the warmth and attention of Hanukkah. In total, 35 volunteers participated in the campaign, including 4 new members! Thanks to everyone who joined us that day and helped deliver the gifts. With your support, elderly and less mobile members of the community were able to feel the warmth of Hanukkah and the care and support of others.