We have already shared many stories about the vibrant and enriching children’s program at each session of the wonderful Gan Levi Yitzchak retreat, organized by the Jewish Community of Dnipro at the luxurious and comfortable Kohavi Forest Club, located in a picturesque and ecologically clean area on the banks of the Samara River. This retreat is a charitable project of psychological and social rehabilitation, created in collaboration with JMC, for families of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s emissaries working in Dnipro, as well as for other religious families.
Today, we’d like to tell you about the joyful and heartwarming way children’s birthdays are celebrated at Gan Levi Yitzchak. During the third session, Sara Leah Shufutinsky celebrated her 9th birthday, and Chassi Gelfand turned 8. For each of them, the children’s program leaders — Sheina and Esty Segal, Fani Gaysinskaya, and Malka Brez — organized beautiful celebrations with treats, warm wishes, singing, and fun games. One of the highlights was a hilarious challenge: drawing a portrait of the birthday girl while blindfolded — an activity that sparked plenty of genuine laughter and cheerful energy.
As always, the children’s program included a variety of engaging activities: games, discussions, quizzes, and contests where participants earned special points. These points could then be exchanged for gifts and souvenirs on the final day at the popular “Store” event — a beloved tradition at the retreat.
One of the most exciting moments for the children was receiving kosher treats — cookies and chips — generously provided by JRNU (Jewish Relief Network Ukraine) as humanitarian aid. These delicious snacks brought lots of smiles and added a sweet memory to the retreat experience.
“Each day in our children’s program is filled with joy and happiness in an authentic Yiddishkeit atmosphere,” says retreat director Leah Brez. “We are grateful to the Jewish Community of Dnipro and Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki for making it possible to bring so much light and goodness to this charitable project of psychological and social rehabilitation in partnership with JMC.”
