At the Machon “Chaya-Mushka,” the leading educational institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community for girls, each day of Chanukah features a new peulah, helping the talmidot experience the joy and deep meaning of the Chanukah days in an atmosphere of Chassidic understanding of their spiritual content.
On the second day of Chanukah, an event prepared by Dvora Noiman and Esti Stambler took place, assisted by madrichot from the 10th and 11th grades. After shacharis, the girls gathered in the gym, where a beautifully decorated snack bar awaited them, creating a feeling of a Yom Tov and a joyous start to the Chanukah day. Then the participants watched a video of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, after which an interactive game dedicated to the theme of light began—exploring how light helps a person grow, shine for others, and multiply good deeds. Images of various objects, concepts, and actions that bring light into the world were placed on the ceiling of the hall, and the girls, listening to riddles and descriptions, used flashlights to find and illuminate the correct symbols, engaging in a thoughtful and dynamic action.
The continuation of the program was a large team game. The students were divided into teams using special pins with Chanukah symbols, and each team was accompanied by a madricha. The participants had to study and discuss the spiritual meaning of Chanukah attributes, the sevivon, the shamash, and other symbols of the chag, understanding how, according to the Rebbe’s teachings, they elevate a person spiritually and carry not only a material but also a deep meaningful essence. After this, the teams took turns running to a special “money machine,” where, by explaining the learned meaning to the madrichot, they received the opportunity to collect symbolic “money” for a set time. The culmination of this part was a fun auction in the gym, where the girls exchanged their earned “money” for gifts.
The final part of the Yom Tov took place in the dining hall, where a sweet buffet awaited everyone to the sound of lively music, as well as the viewing of a video clip that the students themselves created during the preparation for Chanukah. Shared dancing, joy, laughter, and a sense of unity made this day truly bright and unforgettable.
“For us, it was important that the girls not only have a fun time but also feel the deep meaning of the Chanukah light, understand how each symbol of the chag teaches us to bring light into the world through our actions,” said the morah Edna Yudovich. “And I want to express sincere gratitude on behalf of the Machon’s administration to the talented teachers Dvora Noiman and Esti Stambler for preparing and conducting this Yom Tov, as well as to the 10th and 11th-grade students who assisted them as madrichot, and to note that all of this became possible only thanks to the care and support of our united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Kehillah under the leadership of its Rav, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
