At the “Beit LeBanot” girls’ boarding school of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, which provides its students with support, care, and a full-fledged Jewish environment, a gathering of the “Shura Rishona” program for students in grades 7–11 of Machon Chaya Mushka took place after the conclusion of the school day.
At the beginning of the gathering, the girls studied a sicha about the soul in pairs. The students spoke about the fact that a person’s true and most profound essence is their Divine soul, which is the spiritual “DNA” of every Jew. Even when a person does not feel a striving for prayer or the fulfillment of mitzvos, their soul preserves an unbreakable connection with the Almighty, helps them choose good, and act rightly.
Special attention was given to the mission of the soul in the material world. Its descent into this world is not a punishment, for it is precisely here that it must fill material life with holiness and transform it into a vessel for Divinity. This discussion helped the students understand more deeply their own spiritual essence and their responsibility for fulfilling their purpose.
After the class, each participant received a beautiful album and designed its first pages, dedicated to the theme of the lesson. Throughout the season, the girls will supplement the album with new thematic materials and photographs from the gatherings. Thus it will become not only a memory of participation in the program but also a personal chronicle of their spiritual growth, the knowledge gained, and their shared work. The gathering concluded with a fun game during which the students recognized one another from childhood photographs, and with sweet refreshments.
“This gathering helped the girls reflect more deeply on their Divine soul, their true essence, and their special mission in the material world,” noted Morah Edna Yudovich. “We hope that the albums the students will fill throughout the entire season will preserve not only vivid memories but also important knowledge that will promote their spiritual growth and preparation for their future shlichus. All of this becomes possible thanks to the constant support and attention of the united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
