At Machon Chaya Mushka, a leading educational institution of the Jewish Community of Dnipro for girls, a new season of the “Bnos Melech” program for students in grades 5–6 has begun, and the theme of the year 5787 is “The Princess Code,” or in Hebrew, “Kod shel HaNesicha,” for through becoming acquainted with outstanding Jewish women, the girls will learn how a true Jewish princess behaves and which qualities are important to cultivate in themselves.
Within this theme, the participants of the “Bnos Melech” program will each month become acquainted with one of the Jewish women whose example will help them reveal a particular character trait and embody it in everyday actions. The first gathering was dedicated to the Matriarch Rachel – Rachel Imeinu, the day of whose passing is observed on the 11th of Cheshvan. The girls spoke about how she yielded to others, cared for her sister and loved ones, and showed attentiveness to those around her. It is precisely the readiness to yield and to care for another that became the first quality on which the participants will work in the new year of the program.
A special gift for the opening were small personalized mirrors, convenient to carry in a purse. This is not merely a beautiful accessory, for a story was connected to it about the instruction of the leader of our generation, the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who, during a visit to the girls’ school “Beis Rivka” in America, specifically asked where the mirrors were located and emphasized their importance for girls to keep watch over their appearance. Thus, the gift became a reminder about attentiveness to how a Jewish girl looks and how she behaves.
During the lesson, the students also learned interesting and little-known facts about Rachel Imeinu, and then reinforced their knowledge in a team game. For each question, it was necessary to find a one-word answer among many words on a sheet. The competition was held for speed, and team number two won.
So that what was learned would continue in concrete deeds, each participant received a sheet with tasks to complete during the month. At the next lesson, the girls will bring filled-in sheets with signatures. For those who complete the tasks, small prizes are provided, as well as three raffles, whose winners will receive special gifts.
“We want the acquaintance with great Jewish women to help the girls understand how a true princess behaves, and to learn this in everyday life – to notice the needs of others, to care for loved ones, and to be able to yield,” said Morah Zivi Smilyanskaya. “The opportunity to combine the study of Jewish tradition with the cultivation of character and concrete good deeds is very important for our students, and we are grateful for the support of this work, which is a very important part of the life of the united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
