A solemn anochas tefillin ceremony for Shalom Dovber Neumann, son of the esteemed Rabbi Moshe Neumann and his wife Dvora, took place at the Dnipro Yeshiva named after Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson – the leading educational institution for boys of the Dnipro Jewish Community. This important and moving day marks the beginning of the final stage of preparation for his bar mitzvah – the moment when the young man will take upon himself the responsibility of fulfilling the mitzvos and enter adult Jewish life as a full-fledged member of the community.
The tradition of anochas tefillin holds a special place in the preparation of every Jewish boy for his bar mitzvah. Although the obligation to lay tefillin daily begins only upon reaching the age of thirteen, familiarity with this mitzvah starts in advance. This ensures that the young man approaches his coming of age already prepared for the conscious and correct fulfillment of one of the most important mitzvos of the Torah. During the learning stage, tefillin are laid without reciting a blessing.
During the morning prayer, Shalom Dovber, under the guidance of his teacher, Rabbi Avichai Marentz, laid tefillin for the first time. This touching moment became an important milestone on his path to bar mitzvah and brought special joy to his family, friends, and mentors.
After the prayer concluded, a warm Chassidic farbrengen took place, filled with words of Torah, good wishes, and an atmosphere of spiritual uplift. During the farbrengen, Shalom Dovber recited in Yiddish a portion of the maamar “Ita BeMidrash Tehillim” (“It is stated in the Midrash Tehillim”) – a text that boys traditionally study during the preparation period for their bar mitzvah and recite in full on the day of their coming of age.
The Dnipro Jewish Community and our website heartily congratulate Shalom Dovber Neumann, his parents, the entire family, and loved ones on this significant event. May the Almighty bless Shalom Dovber with success in Torah study, Chassidic inspiration, good deeds, and spiritual growth. May he bring much nachas to his parents, teachers, and the Rebbe, and may he merit to go from strength to strength — to Torah, Chuppah, and good deeds.
Mazl Tov!
