[HANASHIR:7620] Re: Torah Study Aid for Rachelle

[Marsha Fensin <mfsings...>]

Hi,
    I have used the Blessing Before the Haftarah as a mnemonic for learning 
Haftarah
Trope. There is some variation with this blessing, as people have pointed out 
with Tropes
as a whole, but, if you begin with a Kadma, as most Katon groups begin with, 
and if you
use the etnachta phrase to end the first part of the blessing--in other words, 
V'ratsa
v'-div-rei-hem ha-ne-e-ma-rim be-emet would be chanted as mercha, tipcha, munach
etnachta--it's great for memorizing the Etnachta, Katon, Revii and Sof Pasuk 
groups.
Have the kids learn the blessing, then break it down to its various Tropes. 
Once they
know these four basic groups, they can chant 90 percent of all Haftarot. Then, 
you merely
teach the darga-t'vir, t'lishot, pazeirim, etc. as needed.  Once they have the 
basics,
though, I find that the rest come much more smoothly.  Also, if you teach 
Tropes using
the Blessing, I have found that it is easier for kids to learn other Haftarot 
once their
B'nai Mitzvah have come and gone.  Enjoy!
Marsha

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