A bright and warm conclusion of the year-long theme of the “GPS of the Soul” (“GPS Soul”) project took place at the Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Jewish Lyceum No. 144, the leading educational institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community. Throughout the school year, the project helped students find important spiritual guidelines, reflect on key values, learn to make the right choices, and grow not only in knowledge but also inwardly.
Throughout the year, the lyceum students participated in a major educational and character-building program. Each month was dedicated to a specific theme and opened up new aspects of Jewish values, relationships, responsibility, and personal development. The students completed thematic assignments, took part in various programs and activities, earned points for themselves and their classes, gradually navigating their own path with a kind of “soul navigator.”
The finale of the program was a large interactive game called “Who’s Holding the Course?” which brought together students of different age groups. Teams of boys and girls competed in the program. The program for the younger students, grades 1 through 4, was conducted by Aliza Rabinovich, Head of the Judaic Studies Department and Deputy Director of the Lyceum for Jewish Traditions. For the older students, grades 5 through 11, the host was Leah Lazareva, a teacher of Jewish traditions. Each stage was connected to the themes and values that the lyceum students had studied throughout the year.
The program consisted of several rounds, each helping to recall the themes studied this year. In the “Blitz” round, there were many questions related to the Almighty, Jewish traditions, and the month of Tishrei. The “Guess Me” round was dedicated to the uniqueness of each person; participants had to identify a teacher or a fellow student based on descriptions and characteristics. In the “Strength of the Community” round, the teams performed tasks where mutual assistance, support, and coordinated teamwork were especially important. The “Torah” round tested knowledge of Jewish tradition; the team had to find the required perek and pasuk as quickly as possible and correctly read the passage from the Torah. One of the most emotional and fun stages was the “Explain to Me” round – participants wore headphones, and their team tried to explain a word or concept so that the player could guess it even through the music and noise in the headphones, which generated much laughter and positive emotions.
The program took place in an atmosphere of sincere joy, support, and true team unity, giving the participants many vivid emotions and serving as a symbolic conclusion to the great shared journey that the students had undertaken throughout the school year.
“Throughout the year, we tried not merely to introduce the children to specific topics, but to help them find their own inner compass, to learn to support one another, to recognize the significance of their actions, and to see how small steps gradually add up to a great path,” notes Aliza Rabinovich, Deputy Director of the Jewish Lyceum and Head of the Judaic Studies Department. “It is very gratifying to see how the students not only completed assignments throughout the year but truly lived these values, making them part of their lives. And we hope that each of them will continue to confidently hold their correct course, actively engaging in the immense work carried out by our united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
