Twelve Names for the Chazzan

My teacher, Chazzan Macy Nulman, has written that the one who leads the tefilla “has been known throughout history by twelve different names in three different languages”. This fascinating insight into the nomenclature of the Chazzan over the centuries reinforces the historical and liturgical importance of this vocation to many generations of Jewish communities throughout Israel and the Diaspora.

“In English he is called cantor, precentor and reader. In Hebrew he is known as Chazzan, Sheliah Tzibbur, Baal Tefillah, and kerobah. In Germany he was called obercantor, vorbeter, vorsinger, schulsinger, and sangmeister”. For the position of assistant to the Chazzan, or for those who conducted the lesser important services, Chazzan Nulman cites the names of “baal shacharit, hazzan -sheni (untercantor) and matchil”.
Two final names for the Chazzan, which he refers to as “subtitles” are “baal musaf and hazzan-rishon (hazzan elyon)”. Whatever name one chooses to use, I am proud to be your Chazzan and hope to daven with you for many more years!

DAVEN WELL, DON’T TALK, BUT SING ALONG!

A COMPLIMENT TO LSS FROM DAVKA SOFTWARE, INC.

I am proud to announce that Davka Software, the largest producer of Jewish computer software programs, has chosen to feature Lincoln Square Synagogue in its latest production. This is the newest Davka mp3 CD program, “Favorite Niggunim of Shalosh Regalim and Chanukah.” Having heard that LSS has a reputation for the most effective and successful sing-a-long congregational melodies, they asked me to record them for this production so that Jewish communities all over the world could benefit from our example. The mp3 CD has 165 files of music for Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Shmini Atseret/Simchat Torah and Chanukah, based on 55 different melodies, most of which we sing here at LSS, plus a selection of other well-known “traditional” melodies heard in many shuls. This includes the varied melodies that we sing for Hallel, Holiday Kedushas, Tal/Geshem, Hoshanos, etc. I am very grateful to Davka for having chosen to showcase our LSS melodies to the rest of the Jewish world. It is my hope that this program will help to improve the quality of the davening in shuls all over the world by helping them to choose effective, uplifting melodies for each Holiday season. I would be very honored if every LSS family owned a copy so that all of us will come to shul ready to “sing along,” as I always urge you to do at the end of every Musical Note. You have all been wonderful until now, and this may help to make us even better!

DAVEN WELL, DON’T TALK, BUT SING ALONG!

SHABBAT HAGADOL ANTHEM

Today’s Musaf Kedusha will reflect the fact that Shabbat HaGadol is the beginning of the week that Pesach makes its grand entrance into our Community.

I have chosen to use a melody this Shabbat that I will sing throughout Pesach for the Mimkomo and Hu Elokenu of Musaf Kedusha, in order to ease us into the mood of Pesach that is imminent. This melody is Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s Adir Hu, which was composed for this piyyut in the Haggadah. It is a contemporary-style melody which complements the “old” Adir Hu that we have all sung since childhood. Shlomo’s version is a rousing, exciting melody, and a good way to begin this festive week.

DAVEN WELL, DON’T TALK, BUT SING ALONG!