This year, the number "16" is extremely relevant for the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" - September 16 marks the 16th anniversary of the registration of the charitable organization, which the team considers the foundation's birthday. This year's holiday is jokingly called "coming of age" by analogy with the arrival of a responsible age for citizens of our country.
The organization approached the celebration of an important date in a non-standard way, focusing primarily on people. Instead of a magnificent celebration in the city of Khmelnytskyi, where the central office is located, a complex of events is held in five large settlements: Starokostyantyniv, Shepetivka, Slavuta, Kamianets-Podilskyi and Ternopil. In this way, it is possible to reach a larger number of clients on the ground, to honor friends and patrons on the ground who work side by side with the Foundation, multiplying good deeds. There are no celebrations in Khmelnytskyi itself, mainly due to the reconstruction of the Foundation's premises, which could not be postponed any longer.
The complex of events includes a list of activities of various nature, which is relevant for all regions of our region. During the 16 years of the organization's representation, it has cooperated with local authorities, social services, cultural and educational institutions, volunteers and other public organizations. During its "coming of age", the Hesed Besht Charitable Foundation invited all those involved in this process in different cities to gather together for round tables to summarize the fruitful cooperation and talk about future opportunities. Such round tables are public, are held in the presence of the press and are aimed at improving the socio-cultural situation of our society.
Local schools are holding Holocaust lessons using the mobile exhibition "Holocaust and Memory", which has been traveling around Khmelnytskyi for seven years and tells about the terrible times of the Holocaust. And although there is nothing festive about this topic, the Holocaust lessons that are covered during the lecture are relevant at any time. And especially now. The lectures are held for high school students who will study this issue in history lessons and will cover it when passing the External Independent Assessment. Using the example of the tragedy of the Jews, students try to understand how important it is to preserve and increase tolerance and how a condescending attitude towards others can be deadly.
But the multiplication of good in the regions is being done by volunteers of the All-Ukrainian network "Community", which has been operating on the basis of the Fund since spring. Simple but extremely effective, motivating campaigns are held with the assistance of local patrons. Thus, in Starokostyantyniv, the benefactor of the campaign was the commercial store "Rosava", which provided a free batch of ice cream, in Shepetivka - the cafe "Kazkova Planeta", which provided tangible discounts for campaign participants, and in Slavuta - the store "Golube Ozero". Of course, behind the names are actually the sensitive hearts of the managers of these institutions and staff, who understand well why it is necessary to multiply good. The campaigns are accompanied by incendiary Jewish music: all that needs to be done to take part is to promise the volunteer to do at least one good deed. Quite often, people enter into a dialogue with volunteers, finding out what such a deed could be. People think about it, and this is already the first step. After all, Jewish wisdom says that “…even the thought of a good deed is already a good deed…”
The crowning achievement of the day is a concert by the HesedBand Musical Group, which is already well-known not only in Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil regions, but also outside of Ukraine. A special program called “Border Town” tells about the life of the shtetl and its inhabitants, about moments of joy and sorrow. In addition to songs in a language accessible to listeners and in Yiddish, compositions in Polish were also added. After all, the towns of our region have always been multinational and unique, where culture was closely intertwined into a single colorful heritage of many peoples.
As part of the celebration of the 16th anniversary of the Hesed Besht Foundation, three comprehensive events have already taken place, with two more settlements remaining. It is extremely pleasant to see the smiling faces of our clients in all corners of the region, radiating gratitude for help and support. It is nice to meet with benefactors who have been extending a helping hand or lending a shoulder to support where the organization lacks strength for many years. According to the Director of the Foundation, Honored Social Worker of Ukraine Igor Ratushny, wherever our managers, regional curators work or wherever our clients live, there are kind and responsive, friendly people everywhere, to whom we are infinitely grateful for their cooperation. The last year was extremely difficult for the organization, but difficulties exist in order to overcome them. Taking this opportunity, everyone present was congratulated on the new year 5776 and wished a good Seal in the Book of Life.
