At the Dnipro Yeshiva Ketana named after Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson—the leading educational institution for boys of the Jewish Community of Dnipro—the results of a special campaign dedicated to 19 Kislev (the New Year of Chassidism) have been summarized. During this campaign, students were deeply engaged in studying the book “Tanya,” learning about its history, its first editions in various cities around the world, its key ideas, and the spiritual light it reveals to the world.
As part of the preparation, the students memorized lines from Tanya, completed thematic assignments, and took part in symbolic activities united by the theme of light. Each class collected “lanterns” that symbolized adding light to the yeshiva and to the world in general. During the learning process, the boys also discovered the places where Tanya had been printed throughout history, gathered elements that formed a complete “map,” and became familiar with the well-known teaching of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev about the infinite greatness of G-d, Who nevertheless revealed Himself in something as small in size as the book Tanya.
Based on the results of the project, all participants received certificates for memorizing lines from Tanya, while the most active students received commemorative keychains. Additionally, ten children who learned the largest amount of material were specially recognized; eight of them memorized the entire perek and received extra gifts. Special attention was given to the class that collected exactly 53 lanterns — a number of deep symbolic meaning for 19 Kislev, since the Alter Rebbe spent precisely 53 days in imprisonment, and Tanya, his major work, consists of 53 chapters. In the Chassidic tradition, this is not considered a coincidence, but rather an expression of profound inner connection and meaning. As a reward, this class received a special prize — a joint trip that will take place in the near future.
“This period has become an important stage for our students in consciously entering the world of Tanya and Chassidism,” says the Yeshiva Ktana principal, Rabbanit Chana Segal. “The children were not simply memorizing texts — they were striving to understand how these ideas relate to their own lives, to personal responsibility, and to bringing more light into the world. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to carry out such meaningful and joyful educational projects thanks to the constant support of the Dnipro Jewish Community and its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
