Israel Unveils Gratitude Stone Dedicated to Kyrgyz Community
New Stone of Gratitude to Kyrgyz people Unveiled in Israel
Bishkek – 24.kg news agency – 15:14, 29 June 2023 – Maria ORLOVA
A stone of gratitude has been unveiled in Israel, honoring the Kyrgyz people for providing shelter to Jewish families during World War II, according to the press service of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan.
During the opening ceremony, Minister Kudaibergen Bazarbaev highlighted the significance of two names that have become symbolic of free will in Kyrgyzstan. The first is Toktogon Altybasarova, who, at the age of 16, adopted 150 evacuated children. The second is Esther Singer, whose name represents the thousands of children who endured the hardships of evacuation and found refuge in Kyrgyzstan.
Unfortunately, Esther, like many other children, did not survive the journey. However, her stone, which has been installed in the Kyrgyz village of Sretenka, serves as a symbol of unity during those challenging times and in the present day.
The minister emphasized that the well-being, freedom, and choice of every child are key priorities in the policies of President Sadyr Japarov. He stated, “It is not a coincidence that the first decrees of the head of Kyrgyzstan focused on morality, spirituality, support for families, and children. The Kyrgyz Republic has placed unprecedented attention on social security in recent years, giving top priority to orphans, children from low-income families, and children with disabilities.”
Currently, Minister Kudaibergen Bazarbaev is on a working visit to Israel, where he has discussed employment opportunities for Kyrgyzstanis with his Israeli counterpart. The delegation also includes Deputy Minister of Education Rasul Abazbek uulu.
