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, as part of their preparation for their future Bat Mitzvah. On the eve of the month of Sivan, the theme of the session was dedicated to the unity of the Jewish people, the significance of achdut, and understanding how people, while remaining different, can be truly united.
During the meeting, the participants spoke about how, when it is dark around, people naturally gather around a source of light – a candle, a fire, or a bonfire. It is then that a special atmosphere of warmth, closeness, and unity arises. The girls also discussed the Giving of the Torah, recalling that during Matan Torah, the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai “as one person with one heart,” experiencing a special inner unity.
Special attention was given to an instructive story about Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli. While analyzing the parable of the tree’s leaves, the participants reflected on the idea that true unity does not lie in uniformity. On a single tree, there can be large and small leaves, green and yellowed ones, each with its own characteristics, yet all are connected by one trunk and draw nourishment from one root. It is precisely these differences that make the tree truly beautiful and whole.
The practical part of the session took place in an interactive team format. The girls divided into two groups and created their own trees, taking turns adding different elements. The condition of the game was not to repeat either the colors or the shapes of the objects, which helped the participants see in practice how many dissimilar details can combine into a single harmonious picture. Even the sudden sounding of the siren and the need to go down to the shelter did not disrupt the atmosphere of warmth and Chassidic inspiration that accompanied the entire meeting.
“When girls understand that true unity does not require everyone to be the same, but rather helps to see the value of each person with all their unique characteristics, they begin to feel a deeper connection to those around them and to appreciate the importance of Jewish unity,” noted Morah Zivi Smilyanska, director of the Bnos Melech program. “It is precisely through such lessons that girls learn respect, attentiveness, and the understanding that we are all different, yet we are united by our Jewish soul. For this, we are grateful to the Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
