Another meeting in the “Rosh Chodesh Club” program was held for the girls participating in the “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro” youth project of the Dnipro Jewish Community, implemented with the support of STL. The gathering was dedicated to the beginning of the month of Shevat and an exploration of the spiritual meanings connected to Rosh Chodesh and the holiday of Tu BiShevat—the New Year for Trees.
During the meeting, the program’s facilitator, Chaya Nachshon, led the participants in a thoughtful discussion about why the Jewish tradition specifically has a New Year for Trees and the inner meaning hidden within this holiday. Central to the discussion was the idea of constant growth: just as a tree, beginning from a tiny seed, grows and develops throughout its entire life, a person undergoes a path of continuous inner change and development. Special attention was given to the image of roots as the foundation of a tree’s life, drawing a parallel to a person’s emunah, which must be strong and deep so that no life circumstances can shake one’s inner resilience.
Continuing the theme of the month of Shevat, the participants also spoke about the date of 22 Shevat and the figure of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, daughter of the Friediker Rebbe and wife of the leader of our generation, the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. They shared stories that reveal her humility, inner strength, and special character, which remain an inspiring example for women today. The meeting’s facilitator, Chaya Nachshon, shared about her upcoming trip to New York to the Rebbe and Rebbetzin for the women’s Kinus, traditionally held before 22 Shevat, and mentioned that she would convey messages from her students and pray for them at the Ohel.
A practical continuation of the spiritual discussion was a creative workshop where the girls crafted mosaics on a wooden base, depicting an olive branch with fruit. Working with pieces of smalti and carefully securing them with glue, the participants immersed themselves in a calm and focused process, where the symbolism of the tree, growth, and blessing took on tangible form. This activity was not merely a creative task but a form of quiet contemplation and inner uplift, harmoniously complementing the spiritual content of the gathering.
“Such meetings give the girls an opportunity to connect the deep meanings of Jewish tradition with vibrant interpersonal connection and shared creativity,” said the project leader of “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro,” Chaya Maltseva. “A special atmosphere of trust, inner growth, and support is born here, helping them feel part of a large Jewish family—the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
