The “Menorah Community” youth project of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, which has been actively developing thanks to the efforts of the Zislina family, recently held another women’s class dedicated to spiritual preparation for the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, a person’s inner renewal, and the conscious choice of what one brings into the new year.
The speaker for the gathering was Osnat Liberman, who invited the participants to reflect together on one of the most important questions of the period leading up to the Jewish New Year: what a person truly wants to take with them into the new year, and what must be left behind in the passing year in order to begin a new stage of life with spiritual renewal and a deeper understanding of one’s purpose.
A special guest of the gathering was Avital Leah Nikitenko, wife of the esteemed member of the Jewish Community of Dnipro and philanthropist Yosif Nikitenko. Her participation added particular warmth to the meeting and became yet another opportunity for the participants to spend time in an atmosphere of Jewish connection, preparation for the holiday, and shared spiritual growth.
During the lesson, the participants spoke about inner renewal, women’s strength, and responsibility for one’s own choices, reflecting on how a person can enter the new year not out of habit and not under the influence of circumstances, but consciously, striving to come closer to fulfilling the will of the Almighty and to correcting oneself.
An important part of the gathering was the traditional challah-baking workshop. Together with Osnat Liberman, the participants performed one of the most important mitzvos for women – the separation of challah – filling this process with prayer, spiritual preparation for Rosh Hashanah, and the aspiration to bring more blessing into their homes.
“It was very important for the girls to reflect not only on what they expect from the new year, but above all on how they themselves want to enter it – which qualities to preserve and what to leave behind in the passing year in order to come closer to fulfilling the will of the Almighty,” said Esti Zislina, co-director of the project. “Such gatherings help us prepare more deeply for Rosh Hashanah, realize the significance of inner work on oneself, and understand the mitzvos through which a person draws closer to the Creator, strengthening our beloved united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
