Another gathering of participants took place at the “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro” youth project of the Dnipro Jewish Community, implemented with the support of STL. The session was dedicated to exploring the ideas of the weekly Torah portion through interactive learning formats, teamwork, and a shared search for answers to challenging questions.
The program was designed to help young people not only become familiar with the content of the weekly portion but also learn to examine familiar stories from unexpected angles, paying attention to different points of view and the profound meanings hidden within well-known narratives and events.
One of the central parts of the program was an association game, during which the participants realized how differently various people can perceive the same concepts, events, or phenomena. By completing tasks and discussing their answers, the young men and women not only got to know each other better but also learned to be more attentive to others’ opinions, understanding that the same situation can be viewed from completely different perspectives.
The “absurd debates” also generated great interest. During this activity, participants were asked to consider unusual grievances and disputed situations based on stories from the Torah. Divided into teams, the young people sought arguments, proposed solutions, and tried to find the wisest answers, acting as elders who needed to make a fair decision. After the discussions concluded, other participants served as a kind of court, evaluating the arguments of each side and selecting the most convincing positions.
Through these game-based tasks, the participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of the important lessons of the weekly portion: the ability to analyze what is happening, to see a situation in its entirety without limiting oneself to superficial impressions, and to draw correct conclusions even under the most ambiguous circumstances.
The evening concluded with traditional friendly conversation over delicious pizza, during which the participants continued to discuss the topics raised and share their thoughts and impressions of the gathering.
“It is important to us that each gathering at ‘DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro’ helps young people not only gain new knowledge about Jewish tradition but also teaches them to think independently, analyze different situations, and find their own answers to important life questions,” says project director Chaya Maltseva. “It is precisely this combination of Torah study, communication, and a shared search for meaning that helps participants feel their connection to Jewish tradition and recognize themselves as part of the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
