The grand opening of the new season of the children’s project “DJCY – STL Kids – JFuture,” which is implemented by the Jewish Community of Dnipro with the support of STL and JFuture (a project of the JRNU fund), took place in Dnipro. This year, the program, which unites Jewish children aged 6 to 12, has received an unusual and exciting concept – the “Secret Academy of Wonders,” in which the children will encounter the amazing world of the Torah, explore the wonders of the surrounding nature, and have the opportunity to learn to perform good deeds themselves that can change the world for the better.
The main idea of the new season is that wonders are not only extraordinary events described in the Torah but also manifestations of the Almighty’s support, as well as the deeds of the person themselves. For every child loves wonders and believes in them, and it is precisely through this theme, close to children, that the organizers decided to acquaint the participants with the amazing stories of the Chumash, miraculous rescues, unusual events, fascinating artifacts, and extraordinary heroes. Such an approach will help the children not only look anew at familiar stories of the Torah but also reflect on how many wondrous things happen around them and how every person can become a participant in a true wonder.
The grand opening of the “Secret Academy of Wonders” took place in the space of informal education on the eighth floor of the Menorah Center. The first class of the new season was built as an exciting initiation into “academicians,” during which the children were to get to know one another, learn to act together, and complete a series of unusual tasks.
One of the main events of the gathering was a team quest aimed at introducing and uniting the participants. Through joint efforts, the children coped with the challenges and were able to open a mysterious safe, in which a wonderful surprise awaited them – a large festive cake in honor of the start of the new season. Thus the first adventure of the Academy concluded with a shared victory and a festive treat.
No less interesting was the creative workshop, at which the children made real academic caps – traditional headwear with a square top, which became the symbol of their entry into the “Secret Academy of Wonders.” Now each participant could feel themselves a full-fledged academician, for whom a whole year of wondrous discoveries, explorations, and new knowledge awaits.
An extraordinarily important part of the first gathering was the beginning of the study of the weekly Torah portions, which will continue throughout the entire season. It is precisely the stories of the Torah that will become the foundation of the journey through the world of wonders, helping the children become acquainted with Jewish tradition, reflect on the deeds of biblical heroes, and understand that faith in the Almighty, responsibility for one’s own actions, and the striving to do good are inseparably connected to one another.
During the opening, the children also became acquainted with the new madrichim who joined the project’s team, took part in games and shared activities, and most importantly – took the first steps toward becoming a friendly team that is to spend the entire school year together.
Now, every Sunday, children aged 6 to 12 will be awaited by gatherings in the “Secret Academy of Wonders,” which will combine the study of Jewish traditions and the weekly Torah portions with exciting games, creative workshops, experiments, and explorations of the surrounding world. The program also includes kosher lunches, trips, excursions, camps, and many other events, thanks to which the children will be able not only to acquire knowledge and find new friends but also to feel themselves part of a great Jewish family.
“We very much want this year the children to learn not merely to marvel at the wonders the Torah tells about, but also to notice the wondrous in their own lives, to understand that the Almighty is always with us, and that through our deeds each of us is capable of making the world a little better,” said Adina Seldina, director of the project. “We are glad that our new season began with such a wonderful celebration, that new children came to us, and that the team was joined by new madrichim. Ahead of us is a whole year of discoveries, adventures, friendship, and good deeds, and we gladly invite all Jewish children to join our Academy. For the most important wonder we can accomplish together is to help every child reveal their abilities, feel the beauty of Jewish tradition, and become aware of themselves as an important part of the Jewish people, continuing to grow and develop in an atmosphere of care, love, and support of the united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
