At the Dnipro Yeshiva named after Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the leading educational institution of the Jewish Community of Dnipro for boys, a ceremony of anachas tefillin was held for the resident of the “Beit LeBanim” dormitory, Menachem Mendel Potapov, who is preparing to become a bar mitzvah — that is, to become a full member of the Jewish community, entrusted with all adult responsibilities and privileges.
Anachas tefillin marks the final stage of a Jewish boy’s preparation for his coming of age. Although the mitzvah of putting on tefillin applies only after reaching the age of thirteen, the preparation begins earlier. And since during this period the placing of tefillin is not yet a mitzvah, the blessing is not recited.
During the prayer, Menachem Mendel, under the attentive guidance of his teacher, Rabbi Levi Engelsman, put on the tefillin. He was also given the honor of fastening the belt on the Torah scroll cover and dressing the “Torah shirt.”
After putting on the tefillin and completing the prayer, a farbrengen was held, during which Menachem Mendel recited one of the sections of the maamar “Ita beMidrash Tehillim” (“It is said in Midrash Tehillim”), which boys traditionally study as part of their preparation for Jewish adulthood and then fully recite at their bar mitzvah.
Rabbi David Vaskovsky, head of the “Beit LeBanim” dormitory, shared:
“It is very important that the boy himself deeply understands the words of the maamar, and that his speech is clear to all guests. Therefore, Menachem Mendel’s decision to deliver the maamar in Russian is a thoughtful and mature step.
We are also deeply grateful to the Jewish Community of Dnipro, under the leadership of the Chief Rabbi of Dnipro, Shmuel Kaminezki, for the tremendous support we feel every day. Thanks to this, our children have the opportunity to study, grow, and fulfill the mitzvot in an atmosphere of warmth, respect, and true Chassidic life.”
The Jewish Community of Dnipro and our website congratulate Menachem Mendel Potapov on beginning this important stage of preparation for his coming of age, and we wish him to enter the age of bar mitzvah in a propitious hour, to grow into a true Chassid, and to reach Torah, Chuppah, and good deeds!
Mazl Tov!
