During the days of Chanukah, a special atmosphere of joy, creativity, and active participation of children in the traditions and meanings of the holiday prevailed at the Yeshiva Ketana named after Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the leading educational institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community for boys.
The Chanukah marathon included a chanukiah competition, for which the talmidim prepared at home together with their families by making their own chanukiot. The children brought their creations to the Yeshiva Ketana, shared their ideas and imagination, and for participating in the competition, they received encouragement tokens, which they could later use during festive games. This format helped bring the atmosphere of Chanukah from home into the educational space and made the holiday especially close and personal for each student.
Throughout all the days of Chanukah, various holiday-related events took place daily at the Yeshiva Ketana. One of the most beloved activities was playing dreidel, in which the boys used the encouragement tokens they had previously earned with great enthusiasm. The game combined joy, movement, and learning, transforming each day of Chanukah into a bright and memorable event.
The culmination of the Chanukah days was a drumming session, which took place on the last day of Chanukah. The children rehearsed rhythmic accompaniment for a song set to the words of the “Al HaNissim” prayer, recited on the days of Chanukah during tefillah and Birkat HaMazon. For the students, this session became a symbolic conclusion of the entire holiday, combining music, joy, and deep spiritual meaning.
“Despite the difficult conditions and power outages, at the Yeshiva Ketana, there was light every day, and the possibility to fully celebrate together with the children was preserved,” said the menahelet of the Yeshiva Ketana, Rebbetzin Chana Segal. “Thanks to the support of the community and the operation of a generator, all Chanukah events took place without interruptions, filling the days of Chanukah with light, both physical and spiritual. For our talmidim, this Chanukah became truly joyous and memorable, as the children participated with great enthusiasm in all the activities, learning rhythms, playing, creating, and sincerely rejoicing in each day of the holiday. We sincerely thank the Dnipro Jewish Kehillah and its Rav, Shmuel Kaminezki, for their constant support and for the opportunity to celebrate Chanukah so brightly and fully even under challenging conditions.”
