Another gathering of the youth educational project of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro,” was dedicated to the special significance of the birthday in Jewish tradition, the understanding of each person’s unique purpose, and the necessity of constant spiritual growth. The central event of the program was a lesson by Michael Muzykin, at which the participants discussed why a Jewish birthday is not only a joyous celebration but also an important occasion to reflect on one’s own life, one’s achievements, and one’s tasks for the future.
The gathering began with an interactive team game on the Kahoot platform, dedicated to the weekly Torah portion. Divided into teams, the participants answered questions, tested their knowledge, and competed in who had better mastered the content of the weekly portion. This format made it possible to combine the study of Torah with the excitement of team competition and became an interesting beginning to the educational program.
Then followed the lesson by Michael Muzykin, dedicated to the correct understanding of the Jewish birthday. The participants spoke about the fact that this day holds special spiritual significance, for it reminds a person not only of the life granted to them, for which one should thank the Almighty, but also of the unique mission for the sake of whose fulfillment they came into this world.
Special attention was given to the idea of the uniqueness of every person. According to the Jewish worldview, each person has special abilities, opportunities, and a purpose, and therefore there stand before them tasks that no one else can fulfill in their place. The awareness of this personal responsibility helps one look anew at one’s deeds, decisions, and attitude toward those around them.
Another important theme of the class was the understanding of the birthday as a kind of milestone that enables one to take stock of the past year and determine the direction of further development. The participants discussed why it is important to notice even small achievements, to value the steps forward that have been taken, and at the same time to set new goals for oneself. It is precisely this way that the birthday becomes not merely an occasion for celebration but an opportunity to receive a new spiritual impetus and to take the next step in fulfilling one’s purpose.
“The birthday reminds each of us that the Almighty granted a person life not by chance but for the sake of a special mission, and it is very important to learn to see this mission in one’s everyday deeds, to value what has been achieved, and not to stop in spiritual development,” noted Chaya Maltseva, director of the “DJCY-STL-STARS Dnipro” project. “We are confident that after such an inspiring lesson, all our students will mark their own Jewish birthdays with a deep awareness of their meaning and will teach this to their children. And for the opportunity to participate so successfully in the process of forming the new generation of Jews of our city, we are sincerely grateful to the united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
