Leeds, UK, held its third graduation ceremony this past summer. The graduation ceremony involved not only the presentation of certificates to this year's graduates - Carol Adams, Deborah Altman, Alan Craig, Melanie Craig, Elsje Prins, Ian Vellins and Arnold Zermansky - but also a number of small presentations. Arnold Zermansky wrote and sang a song which reflected not only on what he learnt at Melton but also on those who taught him. Ian Vellins gave a talk on his readings of Primo Levi and how they tied into the themes he learnt at Melton.

Danny Levy with his graduating students

The two new teachers for Melton next year, Paul Berwin, a solicitor from Leeds and David Mattan, recently arrived in the UK from Israel and a former translator for Yitzhak Rabin, both introduced themselves and gave a short summary of what they will be teaching next year. This was followed by shmoozing, eating and drinking

Graduation Song
[Arnold Zermansky]

I am the very model of a Florence Melton graduate
I know enough of mishna and gemorrah for the rabbinate
My breadth of understanding makes it easy to accommodate
The views of Danny Levi and Masortis from United States
I coped with lessons given by a rabbi and an advocate
I've had two years of coming here … that's 60 weeks in aggregate

In short in things halachical historical and biblical
I am the very model of a Florence Melton boychickel

CHORUS
In short in things halachical historical and biblical
He is the very model of a Florence Melton boychickel

I know about our history from Egypt to Enlightenment
The stories of Leviticus Josephus and the Septuagent
Of Abraham who ran to meet the angels coming to his tent
Of Korach swallowed by the ground for daring to express dissent
I've studied all the writings of Akiva and Nachmanides,
Hillel, Shamai, Rambam even Buber I can quote with ease,
I can write a great responsum both in Yiddish and Ladino
I can even cope with questionnaires on Debbie Denton's email

In short in things halachical historical and biblical
I am the very model of a Florence Melton boychickel

CHORUS
In short in things halachical historical and biblical
He is the very model of a Florence Melton boychickel

Michael made his lesson on the Golden Age go quicker
By pouring kosher plonk (but not enough to make me shikker)
Mel described the festivals and shabbos with precision,
And then invited everyone to see a circumcision.
Lugging all these books around each Monday has been tiresome
But not so hard as studying Creation with young Myerson.

My brain is now so big-it-is a size that you can glory-at…
I am the very model of a Melton baccalaureat

CHORUS
His brain is now so big-it-is a size that you can glory-at…
He is the very model of a Melton baccalaureat

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