David Judah Havin, B Juris LLB, has been the Ba'al Koreh [Reader] since February 1994. In addition to reading the Parasha each week, he also reads the Megillot and is the Ba'al Shacharit on the Yamim Nora'im.

He commenced being a Ba'al Koreh on Simchat Torah evening at the age of 10 under a special dispensation granted to him by his Rabbi, Y L Kaplinski, in consultation with the Mirrer Rosh Yeshivah. Whilst as a minor he could not discharge the Halachic requirement of adults in respect of the weekly reading of the Torah, they permitted him to read on Simchat Torah evening as this is merely customary and not obligatory.

He initially learnt the skill from his father, a noted communal identity, and later from Mr S Kaspi of Mt Scopus College.

After graduation from high school, he studied in Israel at Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav.

During his university years, he was the permanent Ba'al Koreh in the Hashkamah [early] Minyan at the Mizrachi Synagogue. At the suggestion of Rabbi Ronald Lubofsky he made a detailed study of both Hebrew grammar and Mesorah, especially the works of Ben-Asher, Minchat Shai, Heidenheim, Gesenius, Baer and Breuer.

He reads according to the Southern Germanic musical tradition, more particularly the customs and nuances associated with the Frankfurt Austrittsgemeinde of Rabbis S R Hirsch and S Breuer.

He aims to read clearly and faultlessly. He also believes that, by the proper use of tempo and voice, it is possible to interpret the text in ways that are not otherwise immediately apparent.

He is considered by his peers to be an outstanding Ba'al Koreh and draws favourable comments not only from members of the Synagogue but also from visitors including some from overseas and interstate. His reading of Megillat Esther delights the cognoscente.

He practices as a barrister and is a member of both the Victorian and New South Wales Bars.

He is also a leading member of the Adass Israel Congregation.