A festive event marking the conclusion of the school year at Machon “Chaya-Mushka,” the leading educational institution for girls of the Dnipro Jewish Community, took place in the Jewish Community of Dnipro. The grand celebration was held in the “Ballroom” of the world’s largest Jewish center, “Menorah,” and served not only as a summary of another year of intensive study, spiritual growth, and education, bringing together students, teachers, parents, and guests, but also demonstrated the unbreakable connection of every student, every staff member, and every teacher with the Rebbe, with the community, and with the fundamental principles of Chassidus.
The ceremony began with a Chassidic niggun, a video of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the recitation of Tehillim for the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, after which Machon Director Raizel Milman addressed those present. In her speech, she reminded everyone that the ceremony was taking place on the eve of the 12th and 13th of Tamuz – the birthday and the day of Liberation of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson – emphasizing that it is thanks to his self-sacrifice that Jewish children today have the opportunity to receive a true Jewish education. She noted that regardless of time, country, or circumstances, the mission of Jewish education remains unchanged – to continue moving forward, following the directives of spiritual leaders, and educating a new generation devoted to Torah, mitzvos, and Jewish values.
An important part of the celebration was the honoring of the honor students of the completed school year. Malka Brez (11th grade), Esti Segal (10th grade), Chaya Gaysinska and Chaya Romanovska (9th grade), Liuba Kaminezki (8th grade), Karen Pinkus and Yocheved Segal (7th grade), Yehudis Gaysinska (6th grade), Rachel Segal, Sara Rivka Weber, and Raizel Romanovska (5th grade), Mushka Feldman and Gnesha Heifer (4th grade), as well as Sara Leah Shufotinska (3rd grade) were invited to the stage. Next, the fourth-grade students who had completed primary school were honored, along with the ninth-grade students who are moving on to the final stage of completing their full secondary education.
The central part of the ceremony was the awarding of students in eight special categories, reflecting the qualities that the Machon considers the foundation of educating a true Chassidic student. The categories were dedicated to love for one’s fellow (Ahavas Yisrael), diligence in study (Hashka’ah ba-limudim), punctuality, order, and organization (Seder ve-irgun), prayer (Tefillah), participation in mivtzoim (Hishtatfut ba-mivtzoim), initiative (Yozma), and respect for teachers. Before each category was announced, students from different classes presented it through creative performances, songs, video segments, or interactive elements, emphasizing the importance of each of these qualities in the life of a Jewish girl.
In the “Ahavas Yisrael” category, the following were recognized: Chaya Dina Bialska, Dvora Futerfas, Zelda Rachel Weber, Adar Lana Dorfman, Adel Gita Lifshitz, Chaya Miriam Susorova, Elizabeth Shulika, Chaya Neumann, Roza Nachshon, and Chana Nachshon.
For special diligence in study, awards were given to: Chaya Malka Marinovska, Sara Leah Shufotinska, Rachel Segal, Yehudis Gaysinska, and Chaya Romanovska.
Exemplars of punctuality were named: Sara Laktionova, Adel Yudovich, Miriam Liberman, Ilana Nikolskaya, Chana Neumann, Malka Brez, Varda Rodyakina, and Chaya Mushka Rodyakina.
In the “Seder ve-irgun” category, the following were honored: Rozi Engelsman, Chana Listengurt, Doba Futerfas, Liuba Kaminezki, Meital Liberman, Esther Segal, and Kayla Petrushenska.
For special devotion to prayer, the following were recognized: Chaya Mushka Milman, Frada Karshenbaum, Adina Rivka Pinkus, Rozi Stambler, Mushka Feldman, Rivka Elias, Inda Feldman, Musya Heifer, Rivky Milman, Rivka Rodyakina, and Karen Pinkus.
The most active participants in mivtzoim were: Dina Baranenko, Rachel Neumann, Gnesha Heifer, Esther Feldman, Chaya Gaysinska, and Chana Britanchuk.
For initiative, the following were honored: Doba Gurevich, Nechama Smilyanska, Sofia Shabatova, Sara Rivka Weber, Raizel Malka Romanovska, Yael Pinkus, Malka Stambler, Sara Susorova, Mariasha Glick, Sofia Pshenichna, Chaya Feldman, Rivka Stambler, and Brocha Romanovska.
In the “Respect for Teachers” category, the following were recognized: Menucha Elias, Aliza Yevsega, Miriam Laktionova, Rachel Nachshon, and Yocheved Segal.
A very touching part of the celebration was the honoring of the eleventh-grade graduates. After a special video clip was shown, a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to graduates was read, followed by addresses from the graduates themselves, who expressed their gratitude to their teachers and parents. Machon Director Raizel Milman presented the graduates with their certificates and commemorative gifts. According to the Machon’s long-standing tradition, the first-grade students, together with their teacher Rebbetzin Dvora Neumann, solemnly placed crowns on the heads of the graduates, symbolizing the dignity of true Jewish princesses and the completion of the most important stage of their education.
The ceremony concluded with the honoring of the Machon’s teaching staff. The teachers and staff of the educational institution were invited to the stage, where words of deep gratitude were expressed for their selfless work, professionalism, dedication to the cause of Jewish education, and enormous contribution to the upbringing of new generations of Machon Chaya-Mushka students.
“The end of the school year is always an opportunity to see the fruits of the joint efforts of students, parents, and teachers, but above all, it is an opportunity to once again confirm that the cause of Jewish education continues despite any circumstances, just as the Rebbe Rayatz taught us,” noted Machon Director Raizel Milman. “Today, we honored not only excellent knowledge but also those qualities that shape the character of a true Jewish girl: love for one’s fellow, responsibility, initiative, respect, the striving for prayer, study, and good deeds. I am sincerely grateful to the entire Machon staff, our wonderful parents, and every student for this school year. It is thanks to our joint efforts that we continue to fulfill that great mission of Jewish education, which is carried out by the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
