On the eve of the sacred and awe-filled day of Yom Kippur, a time when the entire Jewish tradition focuses on the purification of the soul, repentance, and correcting one’s actions before the Almighty, special and profoundly meaningful events took place at the Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Lyceum No. 144. Rightfully considered one of the leading and most authoritative educational institutions of the Dnipro Jewish Community, these events aimed not only to acquaint students with the external rituals but also to immerse them in the profound meaning of this day, which is the culmination of the spiritual year.
Special classes were prepared for the students where they went beyond merely studying the laws and customs associated with Yom Kippur. They sought to penetrate the very essence of the concepts of Repentance and Atonement, to understand what true inner self-work means, how it manifests in sincere prayer, in the awareness of one’s own mistakes, and in the striving for correction. The Kaparot ritual itself, traditionally considered an integral part of the preparation for Yom Kippur, became for the students not just an external rite but, according to Jewish traditions teacher Lea Lazareva, a deep experience: “Kaparot for our students is not just the performance of an ancient practice. In the classes, the children learned not only to repeat the movements or words but also to comprehend why this ritual exists, what message it carries, and how through it one can feel closeness to the Almighty. We strive for the children to participate in the customs of their people with a full understanding of the spiritual meaning behind them.”
It is worth emphasizing that the Kaparot ritual was conducted not only for the lyceum students but also for the students of the machon and yeshiva, as well as for the teaching staff and administration of the educational institution. This gave the event even greater completeness, as it united children and adults, students and mentors, teachers and administration, demonstrating that the preparation for Yom Kippur is not a private matter of an individual but a process that encompasses the entire community, connects generations, and creates a shared spiritual space where everyone can elevate themselves, become purified, and enter the new year with a pure heart and a bright soul.
