Machon “Chaya-Mushka,” the leading educational institution for girls of the Dnipro Jewish Community, held a rich and spiritually significant day dedicated to Yud Shvat, the date when the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, assumed the leadership of our generation. This day served as the culmination of a full week of preparation, during which the students delved deeper into the meaning of this date and worked on their own projects.
The morning began with prayer and the study of the maamar “Basi LeGani,” as established by the order of the day for Yud Shvat. Afterwards, the girls gathered for a festive breakfast, followed by the main program. The opening event was the lighting of a memorial candle, lit by 9th-grade student Zofiya Pshenychna, who also celebrated her birthday on this day. Continuing the spiritual segment, the students studied mishnayos according to the letters of the Rebbe’s name.
The central event was the presentation of monthly projects prepared by students from grades 5 through 11. These included a weekly school newspaper project (9th grade), daily study of “Hayom Yom” (8th grade), the “Chassidic Birthday” project (5th grade), daily study of Chassidic materials (7th grade), “Rebbitzin” sessions for younger students led by the 11th grade, a project of gratitude to Hashem (10th grade), and an initiative by the 6th grade to visit the sick. Younger grades (1-4) prepared a skit-story about who the Rebbe is.
A special part of the day was writing panim, personal letters to the Rebbe, which is customary on special dates. Following this, special classes were held in different age groups: for grades 5-6, the lesson was led by Daniela Listengurt; for grades 7-11, by Rabbi Meir Zvi Stambler; and for the younger students, kindergarten director Risha Gurevich was invited. The preparation and execution of the entire day were coordinated by teachers Miriam Tereshkevich, Leah Romanovskaya, and Zivi Smilianska.
The program concluded with a workshop on making Shabbos organizers, and each girl received such an organizer as a gift to use at the Shabbos table and when hosting guests.
Afterwards, the results of the academic preparation were summarized. Among the younger grades, 367 lines were studied; among the older grades, 275 lines were studied. The 4th grade won first place among the younger grades and received a prize—a joint outing. The 2nd place was taken by the 3rd grade, who received refreshments, and the 2nd grade placed 3rd, receiving a set of sweets. Among the older grades, the 7th grade won first place, also receiving an outing, the 9th grade placed second, and the 5th and 6th grades shared third place.
“Yud Shvat at Machon ‘Chaya-Mushka’ was a day when spiritual learning, personal connection with the Rebbe, and practical good deeds merged into a single whole,” noted the Machon’s director, Rachel Milman. “This Yud Shvat turned out to be very profound and inspiring for our students, and it was made possible thanks to the constant care and support of the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, as well as our wonderful Rebbetzin and mentor, Chani Kaminezki.”
