Of all the variety of Jewish organizations in Odesa JCC “Migdal” is strongly different.
Among all the differences, such as working with all ages, having both cultural and educational
classes, stands apart the age of this JCC. 19 years at the Jewish “market” – that’s quite a period!
On February, 6 “Migdal”, some of whose some projects are sponsored by Migdal International
Society Inc., was celebrating its 19th Birthday! As the center with long history and many
programs celebration of its Birthday was also huge.
First came a children’s birthday party. It is difficult to find warmer and more sincere
atmosphere that reigned in the hall with more than 250 people there. Perhaps this was due to
high density clusters of infants per square meter but not only.
Youngest performer was only 1 month old, with others on stage just a little
older. The “youngest” dance was performed by 12 children and 12 mothers respectively.
Choreographer Julia Tvorilova herself appeared on stage together with this company.
Other 3 dances prepared by mentioned choreographer were performed by boys and girls
aged 11 to 19 years, among them should be mentioned “Shvigaro”, “Train” and “Idish”. So
different by style, music, color but still so fascinating.
A team of 6-7-year-old children delighted the audience with two already popular
dances “Flowers of Life” and “Children of our yard”. Two even younger dance groups under the
leadership of Julia Kupresova showed bright merry dances “Karapuz” and “Hava Nagila.”
But isn’t it too much about dances? One may think that no music on that holiday and
that would be quite a mistake. Music school “Mazal Tov” under the direction of Tatiana
Provotorova showed a mini-concert inside a large show. Singing, poetry reading, congratulations
and…flowers to Kira Verkhovsky, director of JCC “Migdal”.
Much more can be said about children groups that performed that morning but another
big deal of surprises was accomplished by parents. They filmed new brilliant “Funny stories”.
It was their idea, their filming and all the work was done by parents as a present. As it is well
known among Jewish society it is quite difficult to get something from members that are so used
to be favored in different ways from their Jewish communities.
Also “Migdal” was congratulated a group of schoolchildren. They were assisted by
Kristina Fogel and Dima Proychenko. Despite the new deal for the kids, video, stories and ideas
were very original, and most importantly – genuinely desired to pass on their festive mood.
After a short break till the evening elder members of JCC (about 130 of them) went to
Music Hall “Utochkin” for a Mafia birthday party. Everything was in mafia style: dress code,
entertaining, funny games and all the rest.
This evening was truly full of surprises. Cartoon with congratulations from staff was
like a total surprise for everyone and till now this video is very popular in the Internet. Then a
huge delight was to hear songs from the vocal group as two of the singers just month ago gave
birth to wonderful girls (they both attended the children’s party in the morning). There was even
more music after that, one of which was played by the staff of “Migdal” and accompanied with
dances and surprise from a cake. From that huge cake came out Michael Rashkovetzky, director
of Jewish museum “Migdal-Shorashim” with roses for Kira Verkhovsky.
There is so much more to be said about “Migdal”’s 19th Birthday but that would take too
much space.
Migdal International Society Inc. just wants to wish JCC Migdal even more successful
programs, many more members and all the best. Ad mea veEsrim.
