A grand children’s celebration dedicated to the 19th of Kislev—the New Year of Chassidism—took place at the “Golden Rose” Synagogue. Boys and girls of the Dnipro Jewish Community participated, gathering to engage with the history of the Liberation of the Alter Rebbe in a lively, interactive format.
The event program was structured as a quest called “Operation ‘Light of the 19th of Kislev.'” Within this framework, the children became participants in a special mission, step by step uncovering the meaning of this day. At the very beginning, the participants heard a story about the significance of the 19th of Kislev, recited 12 selected verses (psukim), watched a video of the Rebbe, and familiarized themselves with the rules of the upcoming task, the goal of which was to collect three keys and open a “mysterious chest.”
Teams of boys and girls set off through various halls of the synagogue, passing through thematic stations, each revealing an important aspect of the Alter Rebbe’s personality and path. At the first station, the children assembled an image of the Teacher by separating verified facts of his biography from fiction, learning who Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was and why he was called the Alter Rebbe. This part of the quest was dedicated to the wisdom and depth of his teachings.
The subsequent stations acquainted participants with the trials that befell the Alter Rebbe during his arrest and imprisonment, as well as with the strength of his faith. Through tasks, questions, and deciphering, the children learned about the significance of Shabbat, kashrut, and spiritual resilience, as well as the symbolic connection between the Alter Rebbe’s 53 days of imprisonment and the 53 chapters of the book “Tanya,” which became the foundation of Chabad teachings.
The final part of the quest was dedicated to the Liberation itself and the lessons derived from it. The children traced the Alter Rebbe’s path to freedom, learned about his wisdom, humility, and ability to serve the Almighty, and then participated in a final quiz, uniting the three keys—of Wisdom, Faith, and Liberation. The event concluded with festive dances in honor of the 19th of Kislev and the presentation of commemorative gifts to all participants—beautiful keychains with an image of the Alter Rebbe.
“For us, it was important not just to tell the children the story of the 19th of Kislev, but to give them the opportunity to experience it themselves—through action, play, and personal participation,” shared Rabbi David Vaskovsky. “This day teaches that the light of faith, knowledge, and Liberation must be living and accessible to everyone. We are grateful for the opportunity to conduct such profound and meaningful events for the children of our beloved Dnipro Jewish Community thanks to its Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
