OVERFLOW GRADUATION CEREMONY AT THIS YEAR'S "LAYNATHON" Lester Kershenbaum

For the fourth successive year, we supplemented our usual Shavuot programme of learning with a public performance by the graduates of the "Learn-to-Layn" classes. During the period between Pesach and Shavuot, we had organised once-a-week classes whose objective was to have "graduation" on the second day of Shavuot. On that day, recalling the ancient tradition, six graduates would be called to the Torah for an aliyah, but would read (layn) their own portions from the scroll rather than depending upon the Ba’al Koreh. Most of the students didn’t remember ever having done any layning before and their enthusiasm was tempered by a considerable amount of scepticism.

But this year, things didn’t quite go according to plan – by the end of the six-week course, there were more than six people willing (and able!) to do the layning on the day – including a Kohen and two Levi’im. So, with the Rabbi’s permission, they were allowed to "overflow" on to the first day of Shavuot as well; this required some last-minute learning of a new reading.

We have now run four very successful Haftarah Master Classes and four Layning Classes, producing 15-20 competent graduates, most of whom are now able to do both readings with confidence. Indeed, several graduates have chosen to layn their own "maftir" when they’ve been called upon to read the Haftarah – a practice which may well spread over the coming years. This is not as difficult as it sounds since the teaching method used in the classes is not merely "parrot fashion" repetition; students learn all of the notes (trop or ta’amim) during the first four weeks of classes, and only receive a tape of their individual portions in the last two weeks of classes.

All the participants were pleased with their achievement but admit that they were apprehensive about the big day (as they recall, they had similar feelings prior to their Bar Mitzvah). One of the graduates, Nicky Rubin, who has had an earlier career as a successful singer in pubs and clubs, commented that he was much more nervous before this "gig" than in most of his other public performances. Now that this programme has been running for four years, it has become a local tradition. But, as Rabbi Shisler says, "Why reserve it for Shavuot? Now that people realise that they can achieve this high standard, they should have the opportunity to do some layning several times a year".