Children and adolescents who are having difficulty with kriah often pose great problems for parents, rebbes, and teachers. Should the talmid be promoted or must he be held back? Can he keep up this his class or must a special program be provided for him? How can he learn the skills he is missing without falling further behind his group? How can an older boy receive the help he needs with sensitivity and respect for his age and intelligence. Such problems, although not uncommon, require serious and immediate attention. A child or adolescent who is weak in the basic skills of kriah is missing the very foundation upon which his learning will be built. In addition, there is an emotion toll — the embarrassment and shame brought by a talmid’s inability to daven and read. A program has been designed to teach these talmidim the skills they lack quickly, effectively, and enjoyably. This program is called The Kriah Clinic.

PURPOSE OF THE KRIAH CLINIC

Rav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l related the following story:

When Rav Shlomo was Mashgiach at Yeshivas Rabbi Chaim Berlin, one bochur always arrived Sundays with a glum face. Rav Shlomo asked him privately what the problem was. “Every Shabbos, my family laughs when I try to say Kiddush,” he replied. “I don’t know Ivris.” This was a bochur who could understand a Bais Hamedrash Shiur. Rav Shlomo offered to teach him and discovered that he didn’t pronounce a pasach or a komatz properly. So he taught him. The next week the bochur came bounding into Yeshiva. He ran over to Rav Shlomo: “My family nearly fell off their chairs. They couldn’t believe I didn’t make a single mistake!”

This story captures the purpose of The Kriah Clinic: To take care of a problem before it becomes an embarrassment and a handicap.

HOW DOES THE KRIAH CLINIC WORK?

The Kriah Clinic combines the latest research in acquisitions of reading skills with the traditional techniques of the cheder. Diagnostic testing is used to identify precise areas of weakness and strength. Sessions are individual: one student-one rebbe. Learning games and a variety of instructional techniques encourage the child to overcome his anxiety and fear of failure. Reading becomes a positive and enjoyable experience.

WHO ATTENDS THE KRIAH CLINIC?

Boys from Pre-1A to Bais Medrash experiencing difficulty with kriah attend The Kriah Clinic. Many students come to The Kriah Clinic afraid to open a siddur in front of friends. Some have developed a rebellious “I won’t even try!” attitude towards all their Limudei Kodesh subjects. Other Kriah Clinic students have less severe difficulties, but still find themselves unable to keep up with the learning in Yeshiva.

Slowly, a change begins to take place in these children and adolescents. They no longer “hate” to practice kriah or to learn. They look forward to their Kriah Clinic sessions, taking pride in the prizes they earn and/or in the encouragement that accompanies their beginning success. They begin to realize, “I don’t have to give up,” and “I can do it after all!” In time, they are able to keep up with their class, and to experience true success in all of their learning.

TEACHER AND PARENT WORKSHOPS

The Kriah Clinic also offers workshops in innovative techniques of diagnosis and remediation for kriah difficulties. Principals, rebbeim, and resource room personnel, as well as parents, can broaden their skills in identifying and remediating kriah problems by sponsoring a workshop in their yeshiva.

TESTING AT THE KRIAH CLINIC

A screening test will determine whether or not the talmid has a kriah problem. A diagnostic test will identify the talmid’s precise area of weakness, determine his strengths, and provide recommendations for an appropriate remedial program. Evaluations are described in full under Merkaz L’Chinuch HaTorah.

ADULT SESSIONS AT THE KRIAH CLINIC

Adults can also experience problems in kriah which can be a source of frustration and embarrassment to them. After a comprehensive evaluation, an appropriate individualized program is developed, through which the adult can acquire the skills he lacks quickly and effectively.