The celebrations for the “birthday” of the Khmelnytsky Charitable Foundation “Hesed Besht” traditionally took place on September 16, the day the organization was registered. The Regional Music and Drama Theater named after M. Starytsky opened its doors to visitors hospitably. The celebration took place without unnecessary pathos against the backdrop of difficult events this year. But in a homely, heartfelt and joyful way, as befits a Jewish family. Delegations from regional offices, representatives of government and public organizations, clients and friends arrived for the celebration. The organizers had something to treat and congratulate everyone.
The results of the year's work were successfully summed up on the eve of the significant date by the Director of the Foundation, Ihor Ratushny (You can read it here). Therefore, the celebration was devoid of unnecessary formality - only a good mood, only flowers and joy. The third major anniversary gathered a record number of visitors, who sometimes even lacked seats in the auditorium. This was the best gift for the Foundation's employees, because the genuine sincerity with which people came to share the joy of the holiday is the best measure of any work with people and for people.
So, for those who were unable to attend the event in person, we will try to depict everything step by step. A large signboard hung above the entrance to the theater, announcing the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Khmelnytsky Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht". At the entrance, guests were greeted by smiling employees dressed in new uniforms. By the way, especially for the anniversary, all employees received new sets of uniforms to replace the previous light blue ones. Now, for the holiday, an employee of the organization is dressed in dark blue vests for men and sundresses for women, respectively. Combined with white shirts and greenish-colored ties, the uniform looks solemn and solid. Employee badges have also been updated: in addition to the new design, they also have QR codes, by which mobile device owners can instantly go to the Foundation's website in the "employees" section to get to know the owner of the badge better.
Each guest was given small souvenirs. Children enjoyed playing with balloons with the Foundation's emblem, adults received a thematic postcard in the form of a letter. Its content was fully revealed later, but it was too early to talk about it. Everyone who wanted could take a picture against the background of a banner with the unchanged Ptah Zis logo in the lobby. Pleasant music sounded on the second floor of the theater - the municipal orchestra addressed its greetings to all guests. Here you could also get a fresh issue of the festive newspaper "Shalom Aleichem" and view an exhibition of printed products from all the years of the Foundation's work. However, the main intrigue was hidden behind the closed doors to the auditorium.
And when all the seats were taken, the lights went out and fanfare sounded, people who had dedicated their lives to doing good appeared on the stage - social workers, managers of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht". Their appearance was enchanting: from under the lowered stage screens, lined up in a row, they rode in a circle that turns the stage in the theater. Then some will tell how scary it was during the rehearsals of the moving production, but that will be later. Then a huge cake with fifteen candles appeared on the stage, which everyone blew out together. After the holiday, the guests could also enjoy the cake, since there was enough of it cut up for all the visitors.
The official part of the celebration was full of pleasant surprises, words of gratitude and gifts. By the decision of the Foundation's management, valuable awards were given to people who have made efforts to build the organization and improve citizen service in recent years. The honorary distinction of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" was awarded to the Mayor of the City of Sehriy Melnyk and the Head of the Social Department of the MOO "Joint" Natalia Nagorna. The commemorative medal of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" "For the Creation of Good and Charity" has found its worthy owners: Secretary of the Khmelnytskyi City Council Konstantin Chernelevsky, Branch Manager of JSC "Ukreximbank" Tetyana Lundysheva, Chief Physician of the Khmelnytskyi Oncology Dispensary Leonid Bryndikov, philanthropist and activist Serhiy Polisyuk, Editor-in-Chief of the Khmelnytskyi City Council newspaper "Proskuriv" Bohdan Telenko, and volunteer of the Foundation, choreographer Eduard Voloshyn.
The Head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Administration Leonid Prus, the Head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council Ivan Honchar, the Mayor Serhiy Melnyk, the Head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religion Iryna Trunova, the Head of the Trade Union of Social Workers of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine Oleksandr Tsyuzik delivered welcoming remarks at the celebration. The speakers awarded some employees of the Fund with valuable gifts or certificates for their dedicated work in the organization. The guest from the capital, the representative of the Association of Philanthropists of Ukraine Yulia Yandrova, delivered a welcoming speech.
And then the moment came when the festive concert began. This is where the postcards that people received at the entrance to the theater came in handy. After all, the name of the concert – “Letter” – fully reflected its theme. The author of the event was Anatoliy Muzyka, the musical director of the Hesed Besht Foundation. He was also the soloist of the newly created klezmer ensemble “Hesed Band” (from the Hebrew “hesed” – “mercy” and the English “band” – an instrumental group). By the way, the team had been gathering for rehearsals at the “Thia” Community Center since the beginning of the year, learning songs in Yiddish in order to have time to create this program for the 15th anniversary of the organization. The compositions performed by the “Hesed Band” caused a flurry of emotions among the guests of the event. Unfortunately, such music is almost never played live anymore. But the demand for it has always been and always will be. As long as "aydyshe neshumen" (Yiddish: "Jewish soul") lives. To one of the compositions, a dance group led by Igor Andrushko appeared on stage and performed a Jewish folk dance. The almost one and a half hour program ended with a prayer for Ukraine.
After the concert, representatives of public organizations also took the floor, who came to congratulate their friends and colleagues on the holiday. We would like to express our gratitude to all those present for their smiles and warm words addressed to the employees and clients of the Foundation. We would also like to express our gratitude to the representatives of the media, who actively covered this event on TV channels, radio, in newspapers and on websites.
Ahead is a new year and new challenges. But with such employees, such clients, having such benefactors and being friends with such caring people, we are all confident that the next anniversary will be even better and more solemn. The main thing is that peace and tranquility, love and understanding reign among us. After all, this is what the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation “Hesed Besht” works for.
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