Ben, use this page 3-4 times each week to prepare for your Bar Mitzvah. To ensure simcha success, please use the tools and downloadable items provided here to learn and practice your training assignments between visits with Cantor Green. For questions, e-mail me at cantor@kehillatbethisrael.com or call/text me at 613-327-3984.
VERY IMPORTANT – MUST READ: KBI B’nei Mitzvah Handbook
| DATE/TIME | GOALS | HOMEWORK ASSIGNED |
| We, June 17, 2020
5-5:45pm ZOOM |
Intro to B’nei Mitzvah Process
Intro to Webpage Goal Setting BM Date Lesson Time |
STUDY METHOD (always have your printouts/pages in front of you)
1. Listen to the assigned audio files a whole bunch of times – 15 at a minimum, over several days. Let it sink in! 2. Sing along with the audio files many times until it is identical, smooth and confident. If there are glitches, use the slider to “rewind” and review a word or two at a time until identical. 3. Sing the whole assignment without the audio file (as you will in your next lesson). Use this approach every week, and knock my socks off with how well you know it! AND, 4. every week, you MUST review at least once, everything learned to date, and FIX any glitches. Homework for this week: Get a looseleaf binder (with sheet pockets) Listen to Haftara Trope audio file a bunch of times (PDF | MP3) |
| Thurs, July 2 | Prepare Haftara Trope, concentrating on symbols and the sounds they make | Learn, using the technique above, with LOTS of listening, as discussed, the first pasuk of the Haftara Trope. Make sure to imitate the note pattern in the audio file as best you can. Remember, words in brackets or crossed off are not in the audio file and not needed for our purposes. (PDF | MP3) |
| Th, Jul 9
3:30pm EASTERN (2:30pm Central) |
Review 1st half of Haftara trope
Prepare 2nd half of Haftara trope (Explain what the haftara is) |
Learn 2nd half of Haftara trope
Once that’s really well-learned, go back and make the whole sheet “sing itself”. |
| Th, Jul 16
3:30pm EST (2:30 C) Zoom |
Review Haftara Trope like a song | Ben Didn’t turn up for the lesson today. |
| Week of July 20-24 | NO LESSON – CJG VACATION | |
| Th, Jul 30
11:30am EDT Zoom |
Review Haftara Trope like a song
Prepare Blessing before Haftara |
Learn Blessing before Haftara (PDF | MP3) |
| Week of Aug 3-7 | NO LESSON – CJG VACATION | Keep practicing Blessing Before Haftara. It needs to be sung very confidently next week so we can move on to the haftara! |
| Th, Aug 13
3:30pm EASTERN Zoom |
Review Blessing before Haftara
Prepare Haftara verses 1-2 |
NO LESSON – Ben emailed 25 minutes before lesson to say he was going camping. |
| Th, Aug 20, 3:30pm Eastern
ZOOM |
Review Blessing before Haftara | Finish learning Blessing before Haftara. MUST finish learning it well this week as time is passing and we need to begin focussing on the haftara itself. You can do it! Just study diligently with the audio file above, at least 3 times this week, at least 15-20 minutes each time. Use the technique in the top box of this column.
Please bring your PRINTED pages to your lessons so we can write in tips and tricks and transliterations as needed. |
| Th, Aug 27
3:30pm Normal Zoom link |
Review Blessing before Haftara
Prepare Verses 1 & 2 of Haftara (PDF) |
Re-think tack:
(1) There needs to be an increase in home-study, particularly making sure that you’re studying 3 times per week for at least 15-20 minutes each, INCLUDING a session shortly after we meet, one in the middle of each study week, and one closer to our meeting. NO CRAMMING ALLOWED – it’s proving not to work for you. (2) Move away from Haftara, which I believe would take too long to learn in the time we have left, and focus instead, for now, on Torah and it’s blessings, which are shorter. We can come back to haftara later if there’s time and inclination. Remember, all of this is to challenge you without overwhelming you, and to make sure you feel in the end of our studies, like you’ve accomplished everything with high quality. Quality over Quantity! |
| Th, Sep 1
5pm |
Review Blessing Before Torah reading
Review Blessing after Torah reading Prepare Maftir v1 |
|
| HHs HIATUS | NO LESSONS UNTIL SEPT. 29 | Keep reviewing Blessings before and after Torah reading. |
| Tu, Sep 29
**5:30pm ZOOM |
FRESH START!
Prepare Maftir 12:14 (first half only) You must always have a paper version of what we’re learning to hand. Keep it in good shape as you’ll need it right up to BM date. |
Sort out v’chayei olam in blessing after Torah reading. Use the audio file to help you get it right.
Learn first half of maftir, 12:14 (PDF | MP3) Make sure you always have your printouts at lessons, and a pencil! |
| Tu, Oct 6
5pm ZOOM |
Review Blessing Before Torah reading
Review Maftir 12:14 first half Review Blessing after Torah reading, particularly looking out for v’chayei olam Prepare Maftir 12:14 second half |
In last week’s homework, make sure you do first four words in Torah Trope (mostly Mosheh), and make sure you say “b’-FA-neha (instead of PA).
Learn second half of maftir 12:14 (MP3) Once you’ve learned that really well, go back and practice from the beginning of the maftir aliya. This will prepare you for our next lesson! |
| Tu, Oct 13
5pm ZOOM |
Review Maftir to date
Prepare Maftir 12:15 Prepare Maftir 12:16 (next week no lesson) |
Learn Maftir 12:15 (MP3) |
| Tu, Oct 20 | NO LESSON, CJG ON VACA | Learn Maftir 12:16 (MP3) |
| Tu, Oct 27
5pm ZOOM |
Review Entire Maftir
Work on homework from last 2 weeks (which need more work) |
Make perfect Maftir 12:15-16 from last two weeks. To deal with “Ad-Hei’aseif Miriam”, do repeat-after-me with “Ad-Hei’aseif”, then with “Miriam” — separate them.
Please print out this Torah Service packet: PDF |
| Tu, Nov 3
5pm ZOOM |
Review Entire Maftir
Prepare Maftir from STA”M side Prepare Ein Kamocha first line |
Practice blessing after Torah reading, making your accents on “v’-cha-YEI o-LAM” match the audio file (and here, written with the accented syllables in CAPITAL letters)
Practice maftir from LEFT (Torah) side Learn first line of Ein Kamocha (p1 of the PDF | MP3). If you have time to learn the following line, great! |
| Tu, Nov 10
5pm ZOOM |
Review Maftir from the Torah side
Review Ein Kamocha first line Prepare next two lines of Ein Kamocha |
Finish learning Ein Kamocha up to L’olam Va’ed (ie., end of the MP3).
Keep smoothing out maftir aliya from Torah side. |
| Tu, Nov 17
5pm Zoom |
Review Maftir aliya
Review Ein Kamocha first 3 lines Prepare Ein Kamocha up to Tziyon |
Touch up accents of “MEH-lech” and “Ma-LACH” and melody of last few words on that line
Learn next 2 printed lines of Ein Kamocha (up to “Tziyon”, up to 0:26 seconds) (MP3) |
| Tu, Nov 24
5pm ZOOM |
Turns out (a) the KBI Zoom acct wasn’t available, and (b) Ben had internet connection issues, SO, we’ll review when we next meet. Meanwhile, please do the homework as indicated at right, and for the next week ask well.
Review Ein Kamocha to date Prepare Ein Kamocha to end of paragraph (Adon Olamim) Review Maftir aliya |
Learn Ein Kamocha from 0:26 up to end of the paragraph (ie., up to “Adon Olamim” (MP3)
Please download and set up SKYPE on your devices as we will be moving to that platform. I prefer skype as a video lesson platform because (1) it will actually ring/notify the other person – we don’t have to rely on just meeting there, (2) it frees us from conflicts with other KBI staff using the same Zoom account (like today!), and (3) we can use it to text each other directly whenever needed. |
| Tu, Dec. 1 | CANTOR AWAY – please do the homework for this week, at right | Learn Vay’hi Bin-so-ah Ha-aron, first two lines of text (up to “Mi-panecha”) (MP3) |
| Th, Dec. 10
6pm SKYPE |
Review Ein Kamocha and Vay’hi Binsoah to date | Learn last 2 lines of Vay’hi Binsoah (MP3)
Finish learning “Ki V’cha l’vad batachnu” (from the Ein Kamocha prayer) (MP3) |
| Tu, Dec 15
5pm |
Review Torah service to date
Prepare Sh’ma/Echad/Gad’lu |
Learn Sh’ma/Echad/Gad’lu (MP3) |
| Tu, Dec 22 | NO LESSON – CANTOR VACA | Learn L’cha Adonai first 3 lines, up to “uva-aretz” (MP3) |
| Tu, Dec 29
5pm |
|
Ben didn’t come to the lesson today. |
| Tu, Jan 5
5pm |
Review Sh’ma/Echad/Gad’lu
Review L’Cha Adonai first 3 lines |
Re-print your Torah Service PDF, landscape orientation, shrink to fit! SO IMPORTANT!!
Refresh yourself and sort out the melody of L’Cha Adonai first 3 lines (MP3), making sure you do the “ha-g’dulah” notes correctly so that you end up in the right place for “v’hag’vurah”. LISTEN a whole bunch of times until it’s really in your head before singing along, and then make sure you’re singing the notes the same as in the audio file. |
| Tu, Jan 12
5pm |
|
Ben wasn’t there. Lost track of time. |
| Tu, Jan 19
5pm |
Review L’Cha Adonai first 3 lines
Prepare L’Cha Adonai next 3 lines (up to kadosh hu) |
Learn L’cha Adonai line 4 (end of this MP3)
Learn 5th & 6th lines of L’Cha Adonai from the beginning of this MP3. Keep reviewing everything learned so far. |
| NEW TIME!
Tu, Jan 26 4:20-4:40pm |
Review L’Cha Adonai
Prepare last 2 lines if not already done Prepare Ashrei (top & tail) p151 of packet |
Learn last 2 lines of L’Cha Adonai (MP3)
Practice corrected words in Ashrei up to the end of the Ve-ezuz line (MP3) |
| Tu, Feb 2
5-5:20pm |
Review L’Cha Adonai (entire)
Review Ashrei with corrections up to end of ve-ezuz line |
Revised approach to Ashrei: Learn Top & Tail (MP3)
Keep reviewing L’Cha Adonai, particularly the big note jumps. |
| Tu, Feb 9
5-5:20pm |
Review L’cha Adonai
Review Ashrei Top & Tail Prepare Y’hal’lu (we’ll do Hodo Al Eretz Next week) |
Finish learning the tail end of Ashrei (MP3) |
| Tu, Feb 16
5-5:20pm |
Review Y’hal’lu
Review Ashrei top & Tail Prepare Hodo al Eretz (w/ Mizmor L’David) |
Learn Hodo Al Eretz (PDF | MP3) |
| Tu, Feb 23
5-5:20pm |
Review Torah Recessional
Review Maftir Review Torah Processional |
Finish learning Hodo Al Eretz (PDF | MP3) |
| Tu, Mar 2
5-5:20pm |
Review Y’hal’lu and Hodo al Eretz
Prepare Havu Ladonai first stanza |
Learn stanza 1 (first 4 lines) of Havu Ladonai on p153 (MP3) |
| Tu, Mar 9
5-5:20pm |
Review Havu Ladonai stanza 1
Prepare Havu Ladonai stanza 2 |
Learn stanza 2 (next 3 lines) of Havu Ladonai (MP3) |
| Tu, Mar 16
6-6:20pm |
Review Havu Ladonai to date
Prepare Havu Ladonai stanza 3 Review Maftir Aliya with Torah Blessings FROM STA”M side |
Learn stanza 3 (next 5 lines) of Havu Ladonai (MP3) |
| Tu, Mar 23
6-6:20pm |
Review Havu Ladonai to date
Prepare last 2 lines of Havu Ladonai |
Sort out “vai-sha-beir” to get the rest of that line right
Learn last 2 lines of Havu Ladonai (MP3) |
| Tu, Mar 30
5:00-5:20 |
Review Havu Ladonai
Prepare first half of Eitz Chayim Hi |
Learn Eitz Chayim Hi (MP3) first 2 printed line (From Eitz Chayim Hi to shalom) |
| Tu, Apr 6
5-5:20pm |
Review Whole Torah Recessional
Prepare last line of Eitz Chayim Hi |
BEN WAS ILL. |
| Tu, Apr 13
5-5:20pm |
Review Whole Torah Recessional
Prepare last line of Eitz Chayim Hi |
Learn last line of Eitz Chayim Hi (MP3)
Super-important: go back and review everything we’ve learned so far, EVERY WEEK. We don’t want to have to spend time ‘relearning’ earlier material. Maftir (with blessings), Torah Processional, Torah Recessional. |
| Th, Apr 15
3:40-4pm |
Review Eitz Chayim Hi
Review Torah Processional |
|
| Tu, Apr 20
5-5:20pm |
Review Maftir w blessings
Review Torah recessional |
Listen to Ashrei (complete) at least 15 times through this week (MP3). Follow along with your finger on the words each time. |
| Tu, Apr 22
5-5:20pm |
Work on Ashrei (complete) from the beginning
Review Torah Processional |
Learn Ashrei lines Gimmel and Daled (last 2 lines on the page) (MP3)
Keep reviewing everything learned so far! |
| Tu, May 4
5-5:20pm |
Review Ashrei first page, then private until T’hilat Adonai | Keep reviewing everything at home. |
| Tu, May 11
5-5:20pm |
Review Everything so far | Keep reviewing!! |
| Tu, May 18 | NO LESSON – SHAVUOT | |
| Tu, May 25, 5pm | Review All | |
| Friday, May 28, 11am
at KBI |
IN PERSON RUNTHROUGH |
Torah Trope (PDF)
Blessing before haftara (PDF | MP3)
Maftir Aliya (PDF | MP3)
Haftara (PDF | MP3)
Torah Service (Entire) (PDF)
Blessings before and after Torah reading – DONE
Maftir aliya – DONE
Torah Processional – DONE
Torah Recessional – Ashei (top & tail for now), Rest of recessional – IN PROGRESS
Blessing before Haftara/Haftara SOMEONE ELSE/Blessings after Haftara –
D’var Torah (with Rabbi Kenter) –
Go back to full Ashrei
Other items as time allows: Other Torah aliyot; Musaf; Hallel