Everyone Counts 2025

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Everyone Counts: a Learning programme for the omer

From figuring out how to find your place in the siddur, to learning how to lead a service, our Everyone Counts programme has something to offer ALL our members!

Whether you feel nervous about taking a first step in your Jewish learning, or you’re a seasoned service-goer wanting to acquire a new skill, we are here to guide you.

Scroll down for information about everything we have on offer.

kabbalat shabbat crash course

5.45-6.30pm, Friday 2, 9 & 16 May at NNLS
Led by Rabbi Yael Jaffe

A three-part Kabbalat Shabbat course for service leaders, taking place directly before Kabbalat Shabbat each week.
Session 1: Structure and nusach
Session 2: Standard melodies
Session 3: New/lesser-known melodies

Who is it for? Those who would like to learn to lead Kabbalat Shabbat, and anyone else who wants to gain an in-depth understanding

Sign up

the beginnings of prayer

5.00-7.00pm, Shabbat 3, 10 & 17 May at members' homes
Led by Rabbi Yael Jaffe

Take a deep dive with into the past, present, and future of tefillah, all while building your text study skills. In this three-part series, we'll explore the evolution of Jewish prayer, from its earliest expressions in Tanakh to rabbinic interpretations in the Talmud. Each session will include substantial time for chavruta learning (studying in pairs) with resources for students at all levels. Sessions will build upon one another, but participants are also welcome to join for just one or two.

Session 1: Tefillah in Tanakh: What paradigms for prayer can we find in the Bible?
Session 2: Tefillah in the Talmud: How did the ancient Rabbis understand the purpose of prayer?
Session 3: Tefillah Today: How do modern Jewish thinkers approach the role of prayer in contemporary Jewish life?

Who is it for? Those who are seeking in-depth learning about Jewish prayer, through text study.

Sign up

how to do hagbah

Shabbat 3 May at NNLS, after Kiddush

Led by Nick Gendler

Learn the choreography and technique of Hagbah (the lifting of the Torah scroll after the reading).

Who is it for? Anyone with good physical fitness who would like to learn this mitzvah.

Sign up

siddur satnav

8.15-10.00pm, Wednesday 7, 21 May & 4 June at NNLS
Led by Michael Gluckman

If you’d like to feel more comfortable at shul, know when to stand or sit, and might even be able to hazard finding the place in the siddur, then Siddur SatNav is for you.

Siddur SatNav was a programme developed by Rina Wolfson z”l to support people in understanding the history, structure and meaning of Jewish prayer.

Who is it for? Anyone who wants to understand more about the Shabbat service

Sign up

weekday shacharit crash course

For 30 minutes, straight after Shacharit, Sunday 11, 18 May & 8 June at NNLS
Led by Rabbi Lara Haft Yom-Tov

A course for members of the congregation wanting to understand the structure and liturgy of weekday Shacharit.

Who is it for? Congregants wishing to understand the service better

Sign up

Learn to give a Dvar Torah

Do you want to give a Dvar Torah (a short talk based on the week's Torah portion) but don't know where to start? In these two workshops, you'll get an understanding of how you can approach the texts, and how to plan a D'var Torah. Come to one or both sessions.

8.00pm, Monday 12 May at NNLS

Michael Wegier will discuss Franz Rosenzweig's approach to reading Torah with contemporary eyes.

8.00pm, Tuesday 20 May at Matt Plen's home in Finchley

Matt Plen will explain some simple, accessible ways to structure a Dvar Torah.

Who is it for? Absolutely everyone. You don't need any prior knowledge!

Sign up

Become a Shammas or Gabbai

8.00pm, Monday 19 May, at the home of Jude Williams
Led by Sara Okrent and Jude Williams

The Gabbai and Shammas play a vital part in making sure that our services run smoothly. In this informal session, we will cover what is involved and how you can train to become either.

Who is it for? Those with a good knowledge of the Shabbat service structure.

Sign up

Learn to leyn

7.30-8.45pm, 4, 11, 18, 25 September, 9, 23, 30 October, 6, 13, 20 November

on Zoom
Led by Mich Sampson

PLACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED! Please sign up by Friday 30 May

A comprehensive, 10-part beginners' leyning course. Teaching is a mixture of lecture'-style introductions, supported group work in breakout rooms, and optional individual homework.

All the sessions are recorded so students can revisit/review, and participants will have access to a detailed course folder of resources, and trope recordings.

Mich Sampson is a graduate of the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy's Baalei Tefillah module in Trope, and an experienced teacher of leyning.

Who is it for? Anyone with good Hebrew-reading skills who would like to take the first step to chanting from the Torah

Sign up

have an aliyah

Anyone can learn to take part in the mitzvah of reading the blessing before and after the Torah reading. It isn't even necessary to read Hebrew, as a transliteration is available.

Rabbi Chaim Weiner has made these two instructional videos. If you would like some one-to-one help, please email community@nnls-masorti.org.uk and we will find someone to support you.