This year the 11th of Nisan was celebrated very specially in the Nikolayev Ohr Menachem Jewish School. This day was preceded by the Gift for the Rebe Action which lasted for two weeks during which the children participated in the conquest dedicated to the Rebe’s life, tried to fulfill the Mitzvoim in school and at home and learned by heart the 110th chapter of Tehilim.
On Friday the holiday came. In the morning the school radio announced the programme of the day. In the beginning the children wrote letters to the Rebe, in which they took upon themselves additional obligations and asked a blessing for their people, school and family.
In the second part of the day the children divided into three teams and prepared for the competition. The assignments for them were very different for every age and ability. As some of them were putting puzzles together, looking for the Rebe’s portrait and singing songs about the famous Rebe, the other were competing in a photo competition and showing their knowledge and level of foreign languages. The words “We want Mashiach now!” was said in Ukrainian, English, Hebrew, Idish and Georgian languages. For the assignments the children received money issued by the Ohr Menachem Bank and spent them at the auction. The specialty of the auction was that nobody knew what exactly was in the lots in which were not only sweet things but the attributes of the Jewish life also. In the end the children recited the 110 th chapter of Tehilim learned by heart before and watched the film in which the Rebe burns hametz, gives Matzos and instructs for the holiday of Pesach. All the children agreed this was the real birthday with gifts, songs and surprises. Being satisfied with this day the children said byes to each other until the holiday of freedom – Pesach.
