The final meeting of the season for the “Mothers and Daughters” project took place in the Dnipro Jewish Community, timed to coincide with Rosh Chodesh Tamuz. Participants of the children’s program “DJCY – STL kids – JFuture” and the teen program “DJCY – STL Teens – EnerJew,” implemented by the Dnipro Jewish Community with the support of STL and projects of the JRNU foundation, were brought together by a rich program dedicated to the two most important dates of the month – the 3rd of Tamuz, the Day of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the fast of the 17th of Tamuz, which opens the period of mourning for the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.
The first part of the gathering was dedicated to the figure of the Leader of our generation, the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The participants spoke about his life’s journey, how his leadership was formed step by step, and the enormous spiritual legacy that the Rebbe left for the Jewish people and the entire world. After watching a video of the Rebbe, the girls reinforced their new knowledge in an unusual “photo quest” format: divided into teams, they performed creative tasks related to facts from the Rebbe’s biography and his activities. This was followed by a viewing of the photographs and videos they had created, with the best works in various categories receiving commemorative gifts.
The second part of the gathering was dedicated to the 17th of Tamuz – the day that begins the period of mourning for the destroyed Jerusalem Temple. The participants spoke not only about the tragic events of Jewish history but also about how every person can hasten the Redemption through their good deeds, fulfillment of mitzvos, and personal spiritual resolutions. For this reason, the girls took upon themselves good resolutions (hachlatos), which they attached to a symbolic Western Wall, expressing their hope for the speedy rebuilding of the Third Temple and the coming of Moshiach. A lottery with commemorative gifts, held among the participants who had accepted resolutions, added a special atmosphere to this moment.
The creative conclusion of the gathering was a workshop on creating paintings using the flip-flop technique. Each work contained one of the inspiring phrases dedicated to Eretz Yisrael, Jerusalem, the unity of the Jewish people, and Jewish faith. The participants took these paintings home as a memory of the gathering and of the project season that had come to an end.
“We wanted the final gathering of the season not only to help the girls deepen their understanding of the meaning of the important dates of the month of Tamuz but also to inspire each of them to feel their personal connection to Jewish history, the legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the responsibility for the future of our people,” noted project coordinator Beila Letychevska. “It is especially gratifying that the entire season was filled with shared creativity, study of Jewish traditions, warm family gatherings, and true unity between mothers and daughters. We thank all the participants for this wonderful year, eagerly await new meetings in the month of Tishrei, and sincerely thank the Dnipro Jewish Community and its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki, for their constant support and the opportunity to implement such important projects.”
