At the JBBBS (Jewish Big Brothers\Big Sisters) project of the Dnipro Jewish Community, preparations for the Pesach holiday are in full swing – and they are taking place in a lively, engaging format that combines learning, creativity, and genuine family participation.
One of the Sunday sessions was dedicated to getting acquainted with the holiday’s traditions, its meaning, and its symbols. To make this process not only educational but truly captivating, participants combined study with creativity: the children created their own ke’aros from air-dry clay, recreating the main elements of the festive table. Each piece had its own character, colors, and mood, while the process itself was accompanied by lively interest and sincere involvement.
The continuation of the preparation was a model Seder, in which not only the children but also their parents took part. A large and friendly group gathered around the shared table, where everyone could feel themselves part of what was happening. The participants prepared the space together, laid out the symbolic attributes, and then, step by step, went through the entire order of the Seder, immersing themselves in its content and structure.
“It was especially valuable to watch how the children eagerly engaged with the story of the Exodus from Egypt, asked questions, listened attentively, and themselves became participants in explaining the traditions. For some, this was their first introduction to the Seder, while for others, it was an opportunity to understand and feel its meaning more deeply.
We strive to make the preparation for Pesach not only informative but truly alive,” notes Tatyana Kaplunskaya, the program director in Dnipro. “When children and parents go through this experience together, tradition becomes personal, understandable, and genuinely close.
Such gatherings create a special atmosphere in which knowledge naturally merges with emotions, and traditions merge with lived experience. In this format, Pesach ceases to be merely a date on the calendar and becomes an event that is prepared for together and lived as a family.
We sincerely thank the Jewish communities of Dnipro and Greater Boston, as well as Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, for their support and for enabling us to hold such important and meaningful gatherings.
Ahead is the festive Pesach, and we are glad that we were able to prepare for it together. We invite you to join our upcoming gatherings – there will be much more that is interesting and important for the whole family. Details and registration: by phone at 0933560212 (Yana), or 068-480-30-52 (Natalia, please message via messengers).”
