We are excited to announce two new programs to enhance our community's ritual skills: Torah Leyning class led by Rachel Slutsky and Leading Davening Skills led by Binyamin Cohen!

Both groups will meet on Sundays after Shacharit. This is an opportunity to grow your davening skills, support our community, and achieve your personal goals like leading services or Torah reading. Plus, there’ll be snacks and drinks! These classes are open to adults of all levels and genders.

We plan to meet on the following dates - additional dates may be added later. Please note that dates are subject to change and we will notify registrants of any changes.

-December 8th at 9:15 AM – This is a joint session for both classes, focused on goal-setting
-December 15th
-December 22nd
-January 5th – Leyning class only
-January 12th – Leyning class only
-January 19th – Leyning class only
-January 26th
-February 2nd
-February 9th
-February 16th 
-February 23rd

Register below. There is a suggested registration amount of $20 per person and additionally, the option to purchase your own Koren Shalem Siddur ($25).

Torah Leyning Class led by Rachel Slutsky
So, you want to learn to read Torah? Join Rachel Slutsky to learn the ins-and-outs of leyning. The class will focus on learning trope (the melodic notation for chanting Torah), how to combine it with Hebrew, along with tips and tricks to memorize the reading.

Rachel has been reading Torah for over 30 years and has been teaching others to leyn for almost as long.  She has been the gabbayit of women’s tefillah groups in New York, Ann Arbor, and here at ASBI.  She has been a b’nai mitzvah tutor at ASBI, Anshe Emet Synagogue, and elsewhere in the community, for over a decade.  Rachel has worked with children and adults with a variety of learning styles and strongly believes in meeting each individual where they are.  Torah reading success is usually achieved through rapport, resilience, and LOTS of repetition.

Leading Davening Skills led by Binyamin Cohen
Have you never led davening before, and want to? Did you learn something for your bnai mitzvah, but have forgotten it? Are you someone who has led davening before, but not in a long time? Do you lead davening all the time, and want to get better? If any of these things apply to you, and if you want to learn what it takes to be a shaliach tzibbur, join us Sunday mornings! 

This class is for learners of all levels and interests, and will work towards participants leading services (which one(s) are up to you!). We'll think about the role of the shaliach tzibbur, learn the nusach of tefillah, how to choose and apply tunes, how to project your voice, and much more. Participants will set their own goals, and should come into the class with some of those in mind. Participants should bring their own siddur, or are encouraged to buy a Koren Shalem siddur at the discounted rate, so that they can take notes.

Binyamin Cohen has been going to shul his entire life, and has been leading tefillot since his bar mitzvah. He enjoys singing and is passionate about filling ASBI with more song!