The “Beit Zindlicht” Children’s Educational Center, the main preschool institution of the Dnipro Jewish Community, carefully prepared to welcome the New 5786 Year and the holiday of Rosh Ha-Shanah. The goal was for the children not only to understand the importance and significance of this day but also to be able to participate most actively in all the events together with their families.
Special classes were held in each group, where the meaning of the holiday, reflected in its four names, was explained. The children learned about the rituals, including Tashlich and the blowing of the shofar, the meaning of each sound, and became familiar with the symbols of the holiday – round challahs, apples, honey, pomegranates, the head of a fish, and others.
“Rosh Ha-Shanah was present in a variety of activities, including creative ones,” says kindergarten teacher Malka Averbukh. “During music lessons, they listened to and learned ‘Avinu Malkeinu,’ and also drew apples and other Rosh Ha-Shanah symbols. There were also fun games about bees collecting honey, and they learned how to bake honey cake (lekach).”
An important part of the preparation for Rosh Ha-Shanah was a large festive meal at “Beit Zindlicht,” during which the children were able to taste all the main culinary attributes of the holiday.
