At the Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Yeshiva Ktana, the leading educational institution for boys of the Dnipro Jewish Community, a joyous celebration was held for second-grade students marking the completion of two portions from the first book of the Torah—Bereishit. The boys finished studying Parshas Noach and Parshas Lech Lecha, and this important milestone became a genuine spiritual achievement for them.
For second-grade students, the completion of each Torah portion is celebrated as a special milestone. By finishing the study of Parshas Noach and Parshas Lech Lecha, the boys not only solidified their acquired knowledge but also experienced the joy of their own effort. According to tradition, they read the final pasuk of the completed portion and then the first pasuk of the new portion, emphasizing the continuity of Torah study.
The festive program was organized in an engaging and playful format. Their teacher, Rabbi Shlomo Segal, prepared thematic activities and special cakes decorated according to the portions studied. In the cake dedicated to Parshas Noach, the children recognized details of the ark, the animals, and the rainbow as a sign of the covenant, and also recalled the light in the ark. The decoration of the cake for Parshas Lech Lecha reflected Hashem’s blessings to Avraham and the promise of offspring as numerous as the stars. The boys eagerly identified each detail, connecting it to the text they had learned. The celebration featured plenty of dancing and joyful singing, creating an atmosphere of authentic Chassidic festivity.
The pedagogical idea behind such events holds special significance—to make Torah study “sweet” for the child. Just as at the beginning of their education, honey is placed on the letters to emphasize the sweetness of knowledge, each completed stage is accompanied by a joyous celebration that strengthens their love for Torah and desire to continue learning.
“It is very important to us that every child’s success in Torah study is accompanied by joy and a sense of the value of their accomplished effort,” said Rabbanit Chana Segal, director of Yeshiva Ktana. “Such celebrations help the boys feel that Torah is a source of light and inspiration for life. We thank the Dnipro Jewish Community and its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki, for enabling us to continue the educational process even in challenging circumstances, providing our children with stability, support, and a strong spiritual foundation.”
