At the Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Jewish Lyceum No. 144, the leading educational institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community, systematic work on the study of Jewish traditions continues. As part of this effort, great attention is paid not only to theoretical knowledge but also to practical familiarization of students with the fundamentals of Jewish life, the structure of the synagogue, and the tradition of writing sacred texts.
As part of studying the theme “The Synagogue,” second-grade students, together with Jewish traditions teacher Leah Lazareva, learned about the structure of the synagogue. They discovered who the rabbi and gabbai are, what the bimah and Aron Kodesh are, how one should behave in a synagogue, and why it holds a special place in the life of the Jewish people.
The lesson continued with an excursion to the “Golden Rose” Central Synagogue, where the children were able to see the Torah scrolls, learn about the specific features of the synagogue’s interior, hear the story of its name, and notice the design elements that carry deep symbolic meaning.
A special part of the excursion was a visit to the Sofrut Center, where the lyceum students became acquainted with the work of a sofer. Mendel Margolin explained to the children how Torah scrolls, mezuzahs, and tefillin are written, why each letter holds special significance, and how important precision, attentiveness, and adherence to tradition are in working with sacred texts.
This excursion was given particular meaning by the fact that it took place on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot – the time when the Jewish people commemorate the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Introducing the children to the world of Torah, the synagogue, and sofrut became an important part of preparing for this holiday.
“It is very important for children not only to study tradition in the classroom but also to see it with their own eyes, to ask questions, to feel the atmosphere of the synagogue, and to understand how carefully the Jewish people have preserved the Torah throughout the millennia,” says Jewish traditions teacher Leah Lazareva. “Such encounters help students feel their connection to Jewish tradition, appreciate the significance of the Torah, and understand that all of this is part of their own lives and of our united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
