A meeting with Rima Aronova, Rector of the International Humanities and Pedagogical Institute “Beit Chana,” took place at the “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro” youth project of the Dnipro Jewish Community, implemented with the support of STL. This meeting became an important element of the educational process in this program for Jewish youth of student age.
The meeting began with an informal introduction of the participants, during which each person introduced themselves, spoke about their educational path, and shared what shapes them today as individuals. This helped set an open and trusting tone for the subsequent conversation and created a space for meaningful dialogue.
For the students, a significant opportunity was the chance to speak directly with one of the key figures of higher Jewish education in Ukraine – the Rector of the renowned IHPI “Beit Chana,” an institution that since 1995 has enabled Jewish girls to obtain a prestigious and sought-after profession, becoming competent and highly qualified specialists of world caliber. In an active dialogue format, participants discussed questions of personal growth, educational goals, interests, and aspirations. They reflected on what knowledge they would like to deepen, what skills to develop, and what new directions to explore for themselves. This meeting allowed participants not only to ask questions important to them but also to gain a broader understanding of the opportunities available within the system of Jewish education.
The meeting continued with a lesson conducted by project instructor Yosef Nachshon. The discussion focused on the weekly Torah portion of Emor, as well as themes related to understanding Moshiach, contemplating the Almighty’s presence in the world, and the significance of a spiritual perspective on the events around us – setting a direction for further reflection for the participants.
“It is important to us that project participants have the opportunity to meet with the leaders and representatives of Jewish institutions,” says Chaya Maltseva, director of the “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro” project. “For their proper development as individuals, it is very important to understand how the various educational, humanitarian, social, and other structures of the community are organized, to feel their involvement in the life of the community, to see them from the inside, and to find their place within them as part of the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
