TORAH MEETING/PIZZA PARTY

On December 5, 2004 the annual Torah Readers Meeting/Pizza Party was held. Seven students and three adults attended the meeting.

During the meeting we went over the rules and regulations. Cantor explained the buddy system. The buddy system allows an associate member to receive help from an experienced reader who he/she has been paired with.

The election of officers was held and Riley Schiro and Bryan Postelnek were voted to be the co-presidents for another term.

In this meeting we also went over the tropes that are used during the reading of Torah Portions on the Sabbath. We also analyzed and read an upcoming Torah Portion.

This meeting was very informative and useful for the Torah Readers.

To read the Torah publicly is a sacred task and a great honor. Congregation B’nai Israel is proud of the fact that most of our Torah Reading is performed by lay readers, chosen for their ability to read Hebrew fluently, their knowledge of Torah cantillation, and their willingness to contribute their time in the service of the Congregation. Our Congregation is lucky to have more than seventy of these lay readers, an elite cadre of committed students and adults.  Students who demonstrate superior skills and interest during their Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparations are a continuing source of new readers. They are invited to join the Torah reader program, and many accept the challenge.

Our Cantor supports all the readers in their ongoing study of their Torah readings.  Most of our lay readers chant the Torah about once per month during Sabbath services and some of our lay readers also chant on the holidays, including the High Holy Days, Purim, and Tisha B’Av. Congregation members who are interested in learning more about reading Torah should contact the Congregation office during work hours and ask to speak to the Cantor.