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 the study of the weekly Torah portion of Pinchas, combining an interactive educational program, group discussion, and deep reflection on questions of leadership, responsibility, and fidelity to Jewish values.
The meeting began with an unusual role-playing game, during which the participants were able to imagine themselves as members of the Council of Israel, making decisions regarding the key events described in the weekly portion. Together, they discussed Pinchas’s act, reflected on the question of choosing a new leader for the Jewish people after Moshe Rabbeinu, and also analyzed the story of the daughters of Tzelophchad, striving not only to understand the course of events but also to see the moral and spiritual principles underlying these narratives. This format fostered meaningful discussion, the exchange of ideas, and a deeper understanding of the Torah text, allowing each participant to view familiar events through the lens of personal responsibility and the need to make well-considered decisions.
The program continued with a lesson on the weekly portion, conducted by Reb Yosef Nachshon. Together with the participants, he carefully examined the content of the portion of Pinchas, revealing its main ideas and spiritual lessons, paying special attention to how the principles set forth in the Torah remain relevant today, helping a person make the right decisions, be guided by eternal values, and build their life in accordance with Jewish tradition.
After the lesson, the conversation continued in a warm and friendly atmosphere over traditional kosher refreshments. The participants had the opportunity to revisit the most interesting questions raised during the gathering, continuing the discussion and the shared search for answers.
“It is very important to us that each gathering at ‘DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro’ helps young people not only study the weekly Torah portions but also learn to see in them a practical guide for their own lives, to understand the significance of responsibility, moral choice, and fidelity to Jewish values,” says project director Chaya Maltseva. “It is precisely this kind of Torah study, based on reflection, discussion, and personal involvement, that helps young people strengthen their connection to Jewish tradition and feel themselves part of the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
