At the Chaya-Mushka Machon, the leading educational institution for girls of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, on the fifth day of Hanukkah, the eve of Shabbat, each student received a Hanukkah Gelt—special Hanukkah money that can be spent on pleasure and entertainment, but part of which must be donated to charity, imbuing the gift with deep spiritual meaning and encouraging the observance of the mitzvot.
This year, the girls received the Hanukkah Gelt in two envelopes—one from the Jewish Community of Dnipro and the other from a group of philanthropists—the Goridko, Viner, Vishnevetsky, Chertok, and Rogov families—who wanted to give a special gift to the girls studying at the Machon during Hanukkah.
Following the festive breakfast and prayers, the girls received Chanukah gelt from Rachel Milman, director of the Chaya Mushka Machon. A message was sent to their parents asking them to remind them of the importance of setting aside a ma’aser (tithe) from their earnings.
“This is a very important part of the Chanukah celebration, especially memorable for children, and helps them fulfill this important mitzvah with joy and happiness,” says Rachel Milman. “We offer our sincere gratitude to our united and united Jewish community of Dnipro and our esteemed benefactors for all they do to increase goodness and light in this world. May the blessings of the Almighty be upon them in all their good deeds.”
