At Machon “Chaya-Mushka,” the leading educational institution for girls of the Dnipro Jewish Community, special attention during the days leading up to Yud Shvat was paid to the theme of personal responsibility and each person’s spiritual mission. Inspired by the ideas of the maamar “Basi LeGani,” the students discussed how, in our generation, every Jewish girl has her own task related to bringing Moshiach closer through specific good deeds.
A practical embodiment of this theme was a trip by 7th-grade students to the “Beit Zindlicht” Children’s Educational Center, the leading preschool institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community. There, the girls conducted a special program for the children of the preparatory group, dedicated to Yud Shvat, the figure of the Rebbe, and the importance of the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles.
The program was prepared by the students themselves and included a play, dances, and games, through which the children became acquainted with the traditions and meanings of Jewish life in an exciting and accessible way. Part of the session was conducted in Hebrew, and the Machon students took their role as mentors very seriously, striving to convey not only knowledge but also a warm, joyful attitude towards observing mitzvos.
A special moment was the gift boxes prepared by the students for the children. They contained candles for lighting before Shabbos, grape juice, and sweets—everything that helps a child feel the atmosphere of the holy day and connect with Jewish tradition from the earliest age.
The meeting took place in a very warm and joyous atmosphere; the children were happy, eagerly participated in all parts of the program, and received the gifts with excitement. For the Machon students themselves, this trip became an important step in personally accepting responsibility—not only to learn themselves but also to share the light of Torah and mitzvos with others.
“When our students themselves become those who pass on knowledge and inspiration to younger ones, they truly begin to feel their personal mission,” noted the Machon’s director, Rachel Milman. “This pre-Yud Shvat initiative became a living embodiment of the Rebbe’s ideas that every Jewish girl can be a source of light for her surroundings. We are grateful to the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, as well as to our Rebbetzin Chani Kaminezki, for their constant support and care in educating the younger generation.”
