A solemn anochas tefillin ceremony was held at the Dnipro Yeshiva-Ketana for Shneor Shabatov, a student of the Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Jewish Lyceum No. 144, son of Roi Avraham Shabatov and Alina Oshina. The young man is preparing to become a bar mitzvah, meaning he is about to enter the age when he becomes a full-fledged member of the Jewish community, taking on adult responsibilities, spiritual practices, and the most important mitzvot.
Anochas tefillin is the final stage of a Jewish boy’s preparation for his bar mitzvah. Although the obligation to wear tefillin only begins after reaching the age of thirteen, the learning process starts in advance so that the teenager can enter his big day with confidence and preparation. Since the mitzvah is not yet in effect at this stage, the blessing over the tefillin is not yet recited.
Following the donning of the tefillin and prayer, a warm Chassidic farbrengen took place. Shneor recited part of the maamar “Ito Bimidrash Tehillim” – a traditional text that boys learn in preparation for their Jewish adulthood and recite in full on the day of their bar mitzvah. Joyful nigunim (melodies) were then sung, and the participants happily danced.
“Shneor takes his preparation for adulthood very seriously. He studies with great diligence, and we all see him growing spiritually every day, assisted by his teacher at the Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Yeshiva-Ketana, David Maltsev,” shared Leah Lazareva, the Jewish Traditions teacher at the lyceum. “For our school, it is a great joy to accompany children on their journey to becoming a bar mitzvah.”
The Dnipro Jewish Community and our website congratulate Shneor Shabatov on the beginning of this responsible and inspiring stage of preparation for his bar mitzvah! We wish him to reach the age of maturity at a propitious time, become a true Chassid, and come to Torah, the wedding canopy (chuppah), and good deeds!
Mazl Tov!
