Another gathering of participants in the “Bnos Melech” (“Daughters of the King”) program took place at Machon “Chaya-Mushka,” the leading educational institution for girls of the Dnipro Jewish Community. Within the framework of the program, the girls are preparing for their upcoming Bat Mitzvah. This time, they spoke about the inner nature of the Jewish soul, its yearning for the Almighty, and its ability to maintain this direction regardless of life’s circumstances.
The central theme of the session was the image of a candle, whose flame always rises upward, no matter the position of the candle itself. Through this metaphor, the participants contemplated that a person’s soul, despite external difficulties, pressure, or the fluctuations of life’s situations, invariably strives towards its spiritual source, towards the Almighty. Everything that happens to a person has a higher meaning and occurs by His will.
Special attention was given to watching a video of the Rebbe, which explored the concept of a person’s inner strength. It emphasized that the truly strong person is one who relies not only on external resources but also on the profound understanding that every trial is given by the Almighty together with the strength needed to overcome it. Such a perspective helps one not to fear difficulties, but to perceive them as opportunities for growth and the revelation of inner potential.
The practical part of the session took place in an interactive game format. The girls read a story about Pesach, answered questions, and advanced along symbolic steps leading to the flame of the candle, thus reinforcing the ideas studied through participation and engagement. This format allowed not only for better assimilation of the material but also created an atmosphere of cooperation and support.
“When a girl understands that under any circumstances in her life, her soul always strives towards the Almighty, and that every trial is given together with the strength to overcome it, she learns not to fear difficulties and to see meaning in them,” noted Morah Zivi Smilyanska, director of the Bnos Melech program. “This is precisely how inner resilience, faith, and a deep connection with the Creator are formed. This is especially important for our students, who are growing up in an atmosphere of care and attention from the Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
