The girls met on the eve of Shabbat in order to get acquainted and to organize the celebration for their parents. Together, they baked traditional Challa bread, in preparation for the Shabbat. On Shabbat, during the morning prayer at the 'Golden Rose' Synagogue, they recived their Jewish names.
Mass Bat Mitzva Ceremony Held in Ukraine
Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine – The Jewish community of Dnepropetrovsk hosted a mass Bat Mitzva ceremony at the ‘Ohr Avner-Levi-Yitzchok Schneerson’ Jewish Day School. This event involved not only students from Dnepropetrovsk but also students from schools belonging to the Ohr Avner educational network in Dneprodzerzhinsk, Krivoy Rog and Cherkassy.
The girls met on the eve of Shabbat in order to get acquainted and to organize the celebration for their parents. Together, they baked traditional Challa bread, in preparation for the Shabbat. On Shabbat, during the morning prayer at the ‘Golden Rose’ Synagogue, they recived their Jewish names.
“Today is our Bat Mitzva, the acknowledgement of the community of a girl’s coming of age,” stated Chaya Maltseva, the sixth grade girls’ leader from the Dnepropetrovsk school. “On Friday, girls from Dneprodzerzhinsk, Krivoy Rog and Cherkassy came here for an extensive program. They made good friends and united not only in their interests, but also their Jewish origin and this common experience. Standing on the threshold of their lives, they should associate with the community and this is very important so that they recognize themselves as adults”.
Twenty students gathered Sunday morning to prepare a concert and gifts for their parents. The celebration was hosted by Chana Kaminetsky the wife of the Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk. “I am glad we decided to hold this Bat Mitzva in Dnepropetrovsk. She then presented each girl a Shabbat candlestick and the ‘Tehilim’ book on behalf of the Dnepropetrovsk community.
Irina Krikun from Dneprodzerzhinsk read greetings on behalf of all the parents. Her daughter Sara then followed up by thanking her on behalf of all girls.
The celebration culminated with each girl accepting the obligations to perform mitzvot. Vika Pelevnova, one of the participants, said ”Today I had my celebration of maturity, because this is very important for me. I feel I have grown up, taking on new obligations and a promise to carry out the Torahs commandments. I feel I have grown not only physically, but in my soul and mind”.
