At the “Beit Zindlicht” Children’s Educational Center, the leading early childhood institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community, Purim was celebrated vibrantly and joyfully across all age groups. A special program was prepared for each age level, allowing the little ones to experience the holiday in an accessible and engaging format.
The children played and rejoiced, made noisemakers, applied festive face paint, and proudly showed off their colorful costumes. The atmosphere in the kindergarten was filled with laughter and anticipation for the main event of the day – the Megillah reading.
Specially to read the Megillah to the youngest members of the community, young men from the prestigious international educational institution “Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Ktana Ukraine” visited Beit Zindlicht. These students are future rabbis and leaders of Jewish communities around the world. In the nursery and younger groups, the Megillah was read by Mendel Neumann, and in the middle and older groups by Avichai Marentz and Levi Brez. The children listened attentively to the reading and enthusiastically rattled their graggers whenever Haman’s name was mentioned, fulfilling the Purim tradition.
After the Megillah reading, the children exchanged mishloach manos with one another, delighting their friends and sharing in the holiday atmosphere. Through play, creativity, and personal participation, the children not only learned about the mitzvos of Purim but also experienced the joy of fulfilling traditions.
“Purim in our kindergarten was very joyful and truly vibrant,” said Naomi Chaya Yavorska, an educator at the kindergarten. “A special program was prepared for each group, and the Megillah reading by the representatives of ‘Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Ktana Ukraine’ was an important part of the celebration. Such events help children from an early age feel connected to Jewish tradition and to our united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
