The Orthodox Union’s Nach Yomi program, in which a chapter of Nach – Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings) – is completed every day, just had its youngest participant ever complete the cycle, which takes approximately two years. Menachem Gans, 12, of Paramus, just celebrated the completion of the books, and is now set to celebrate another milestone: his bar mitzvah on Wednesday, January 13, at Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn. His bar mitzvah portion is Parshas Va’eira, which Menachem will read on Shabbos, January 16 at Congregation K'hal Adath Jeshurun of Paramus.

Menachem stated, “I chose to study Nach Yomi starting at age 10 because I knew I wanted to accomplish a goal in my learning in honor of my bar mitzvah.”

Menachem, who is in the seventh grade at Yavneh Academy in Paramus, plans to deliver a shiur (talk) on things he learned about Nach and connect it to his bar mitzvah parsha, with a focus on comparing and contrasting Rashi’s definition of a navi in Parshas Va’eira to the experiences of the many nevi’im encountered in Nach.

Howard and Rochelle Gans, Menachem’s parents, declared, “We are really very humbled by all the interest in Menachem, and at the same time, extremely proud of him. We know this is only the beginning for him and of his exceptional learning and achievements.”