A special Chassidic celebration in honor of the 19th of Kislev—the New Year of Chassidism—took place at the “Chaya Mushka” Machon, the leading educational institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community for girls. The event became the culmination of days of preparation, uniting all classes of the Machon around the study of the book “Tanya” and proceeding in an atmosphere of lively interest, spiritual uplift, and genuine Chassidic joy.
Preparation for the 19th of Kislev began long before the festive day. The students of the Machon memorized lines from the book “Tanya” and recited the learned material to their homeroom teachers. Additionally, an engaging quiz was held for the girls daily. Eighth-grade students prepared video questions shown to everyone else, and each correct series of answers entered a prize draw, adding an element of inspiring play and healthy competition to the learning process.
On the day of the celebration itself, after morning prayers and breakfast, a grand program was organized for the girls, including ten exciting stations, each connected to the central concepts of the book “Tanya.” Through games, quests, tasks, and teamwork in a playful format, the students familiarized themselves with key themes such as the beinoni and the tzaddik, love and awe of the Almighty, the concepts of Yirat HaShem and Ahavat HaShem, and learned to see how the Alter Rebbe’s profound ideas relate to their own lives and help them look anew at themselves and their inner world.
The conclusion of the educational and playful part involved summarizing the results. It was announced that during the preparation period, the students of the Machon had memorized over three and a half thousand lines from the book “Tanya.” Prizes were drawn in various categories to honor both the most active and the most persistent participants. However, at the same time, every girl who studied “Tanya” received her participation prize, feeling that her contribution to the shared effort was valued and noticed.
The final part of the program was a warm Chassidic farbrengen. For the older girls, a special guest, Mrs. Chana Nevenchana, a baalat teshuvah and activist of the Dnipro Jewish Community who has been studying the book “Tanya” for over three years, was invited to the farbrengen. She shared personal stories with the students about the changes that have occurred and continue to occur in her life thanks to the constant study of this great work by the Alter Rebbe, and how the words of “Tanya” help navigate trials and strengthen one’s commitment to Torah and mitzvot. The celebration concluded with the joint singing of nigunim in honor of the 19th of Kislev, and the girls felt that they had experienced a truly good Chassidic day, filled with light, joy, and inner growth.
“This event, meticulously, very qualitatively, and talentedly prepared by Daniela Listengurt, Leah Romanovska, and Zivi Smilianska, became a special step for our students in entering the world of ‘Tanya’ and Chassidism. It helped them see that the Alter Rebbe’s deep ideas can be understandable and close even at a teenage age and can genuinely influence their thoughts, feelings, and actions. The figure of several thousand memorized lines shows how seriously the girls approached the preparation,” shared Morah Sheina Smilianska. “We sincerely thank the Dnipro Jewish Community and its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki, for the opportunity to conduct such meaningful and joyful programs for the girls within the walls of our Machon.”
