Another men’s class at the “Menorah Community” youth project of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, which has been actively developing thanks to the efforts of the Zislina family, was dedicated to the concluding days of the month of Tishrei – Hoshana Rabbah, Shmini Atzeres, and Simchas Torah. It is precisely these days that sum up the entire period of the autumn holidays, helping a person preserve the spiritual elevation achieved throughout the month and receive a charge of vitality and inspiration for the entire year.
The speaker for the gathering was Rabbi Reuven Kaminezki, who addressed the most relevant questions connected with the spiritual meaning of the concluding holidays of the month of Tishrei. The main attention was given to the inner connection between Hoshana Rabbah, Shmini Atzeres, and Simchas Torah, as well as to why, after days of deep prayer and spiritual self-reflection, the Jewish people conclude this path with joy, dancing with Torah scrolls, and a special sense of closeness to the Almighty.
During the lesson, the participants reflected on how the spiritual experience of the festive month can accompany a person even after the holidays conclude. The discussion focused on understanding that Simchas Torah marks not an ending but the beginning of a new cycle: concluding the annual cycle of Torah reading, Jews immediately begin the book of “Bereishis,” thereby demonstrating the continuity of Torah study and a constant striving for spiritual growth.
“The conclusion of the holidays of Tishrei reminds us that a person’s main task is not only to experience special spiritual moments but also to preserve them in daily life, so that the joy of Torah, love for mitzvos, and the striving for good deeds accompany us throughout the coming year,” noted Levi Zislina, director of the “Menorah Community” project. “This is how Jewish tradition becomes part of our daily life, our families, and our actions. And for the opportunity to walk this path together, to study Torah, and to live by its values, we thank from the bottom of our hearts our beloved united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
