Questions tagged [chazzan-prayer-leader]

Questions about the person who leads Jewish prayers when a minyan is present.

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Chabad Chazzanus Recordings

Is there a place online where I can find recordings of Chabad chazzanus (i.e. the tunes a Chabad chazzan would use for Hodu, Shemoneh Esrei, etc.)? The recordings should preferably be free online. ...
ezra's user avatar
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Chazzan forgot to say Tachanun during mincha - how to proceed? [duplicate]

While at shul for mincha the other day, the chazzan began to say Kaddish after finishing *Chazarat Hashat"z' (Shemoneh Esreh repetition). Ata bout the point people answered Yehei Shmei Rabba, people ...
DanF's user avatar
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6 votes
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76 views

Can the Shaliach Tzibbur walk around while praying?

For any of the prayers other than the Amidah, are there sources that allow the prayer leader to walk around (for no special purpose) while praying? The question is specific to the Shaliach Tzibbur, ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
207 views

Is it okay to respond "Amein" to a gibberish prayer made in jest?

As the title says, is it permissible to respond "Amein" and "B'rik Hu"to a Kaddish/Chatzi Kaddish prayer made in gibberish, with words like "Blah blah blah" thrown in for jest? Or should one stay ...
Ben Avraham's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
214 views

People with defects and their role in serving

Parashat Emor teaches (Vayikra/Leviticus 21:17) something about a kohen with a 'מום' (blemish, defect, deformity, disability, handicap) isn't allowed to serve in the Holy Temple. But without the ...
Levi's user avatar
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1 vote
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Shaliach Tzibbur and shul "politics"

Shulchan Aruch O.C. 53:4-5 discusses some qualifications for an ideal shaliach tzibbur as well as other "non-ideal" qualifications. It seems that one necessity is that the congregation prefers him and ...
DanF's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
103 views

Do we answer אָמֵן after the leader says וְאִמְרוּ or after he says וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן?

Our prayers often end with the phrase וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן. Kaddish also ends with it, as follows: עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:‏...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
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1 answer
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Could a Levi be the one who leads Birkas Kohanim?

In Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 128 Sif 22, the Mechaber writes that, regarding Birkas Kohanim, "we attempt to have the caller [i.e. the one who says the words of the Bracha before the Kohanim] ...
Salmononius2's user avatar
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Priority for multiple "chiyuvim" to be Shaliach Tzibbur

What is the priority for the following situations regarding who is Shaliach Tzibbur during a weekday (I'm excluding the possibility of various customs that exclude such people from leading services on ...
DanF's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
209 views

Do Lubavitch chassidim extend shacharit to 90 minutes?

In the end of Chapter 1 of Igeret HaKodesh (often published with the Tanya), the Baal haTanya writes that businessmen should not be invited to lead prayer on weekdays, but only those with the free ...
Ze'ev misses Monica's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
144 views

Correcting the Shaliach Tzibbur

As far as I can see, we still view the repetition of the Amida as an obligation (as indicated in footnote two, here), and require the Shatz to be precise and say the right prayers in order to fulfill ...
rosends's user avatar
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2 votes
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Official position of the title "Chazzan"

My grandfather ז”ל (the Frankfurt connection) was a chazzan for much of his professional career. When he died several years back, I inherited his sifrei chazzanus and his cantorial levush (clothing). ...
Noach MiFrankfurt's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
84 views

Should you answer Kadish s'fayka?

If someone is making a minyan which you beleive doesn't have the required ten people, he says that guy will answer but you see that he most likely will not, and all together you highly doubt whether ...
larry909's user avatar
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Congregation without a Minyan

What parts are to be omitted in davening if the congregation does not have a minyan? I know Kaddish and Borchu need a minyan, but what about things like the Chazzan's repetition of the Amidah? (...
ezra's user avatar
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Chazzan Recordings Online (Nusach Sefard)

Is there anywhere online where I can find recordings of Nusach Sefard liturgy, as sung by the chazzan? There are plenty of websites dedicated to liturgy according to Nusach Ashkenaz and some Chabad-...
ezra's user avatar
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3 votes
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250 views

"Yotzer Or" procedure

Right after borochu in shacharit there is a bracha “yotzer or uvoreh choshech, oseh shalom uvoreh et ha kol”. Should this bracha be said out loud by the shaliach tzibur? Regardless of whether it ...
TheRiver's user avatar
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What's the best way to learn how to lead mincha?

There are times where there's no one that's able to lead it, and it would be nice to be able to do so myself, but I'm not fluent in Hebrew but can read it slowly. What's the best way to practice for ...
CoolGuy's user avatar
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When and why did the custom to have young children end Musaph Shabbat davening begin?

In most shuls that I have attended (mainly Nusach Ashkenaz), young children (below Bar Mitzvah age, usually) finish the Shabbat davening at the end of Musaph. I.e., they sing from En K'elokeinu ...
DanF's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
131 views

What is the Cantor's role in Judaism?

What is the role of a Cantor? When and why did the Cantor come into place?
Aigle's user avatar
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6 votes
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570 views

Placement of Aneinu on the day of a fast

On days when the community fasts the prayer of "aneinu" is added to the repetition of the leader in the morning and is said after the blessing of "Re'eh Nah". In Mincha the community adds this prayer ...
Yehoshua's user avatar
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2 votes
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177 views

In birkat kohanim, who calls out "kohanim"?

Should the chazan be the one to say kohanim or a member of the tzibbur? If you hold that it should be a member of the tzibbur due to Hefsek why would it be a Hefsek for the chazan to say kohanim?
Yosef Mordechai Coleman's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
101 views

Answering the Chazzan from outside a Shul

If one is neither part of a certain Minyan nor Davening at all rather in a different room, but can hear the Chazzan, may he answer to Amen,Kaddish,etc. ?
KolHashoneh18's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
592 views

"Chiyuv" to be chazan vs. congregational approval and refusal

Follow-up to this M.Y. answer about a "chiyuv" to daven from the amud. The answer states that a mourner for a parent should try to be shaliach tzibbur. I question whether this rule contradicts some ...
DanF's user avatar
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13 votes
2 answers
3k views

What does it mean for a mourner to "have a chiuv"?

I have noticed that in many synagogues, before davening, the gabbai customarily asks if anybody "has a chiuv". If there is anybody with a chiuv, he is asked to daven from the amud. The people who ...
Daniel's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
152 views

Chazan's position and path when taking out the Torah?

When taking out the Torah from the ark, what is the proper procedure in these areas? On Shabbat, the Chazan faces the cong. (back to the ark) when saying Shema and Echad Elokeinu. Then he turns to ...
DanF's user avatar
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5 votes
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834 views

Is Selichos recited in the house of a mourner during shiva on Asara B'Tevet?

Is Selichot said in the house of an avel during shiva on the 10th of Tevet? Does the mourner lead the Selichos?
Mordechai Rindenow's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
133 views

Steps after chazaras hashatz, if the chazan doesn't continue past Ashre

As user6591 notes, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 123:5) says that the prayer leader does not need to take three steps backward after his repetition of the amida, and the Mishna B'rura (:18) gives the reason: ...
msh210's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
86 views

Not taking three steps forward for the Chazzan's repetition

Last Shabbat we had a guy fill in for Minchah as Chazzan. He did a great job. I'm sure he was just nervous and didn't want to err. But I noticed he didn't take the 3 steps forward for the repetition. (...
Re'eh's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
121 views

Bowing at borechu with the shaliach tzibbur

I've seen some people bowing at the same time as the shaliach tzibbur while he's saying "borechu" and then bowing again after for boruch hashem etc. What is the source of the practice for this first ...
Frank's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
322 views

Why does congregational prayer require a chazan / shaliach tzibbur (cantor)?

Talmud Brachot mentions some of the duties of the shali'ach tzibur in terms of some of his halachic responsibilities during prayer. But, I haven't been able to locate anything in the Talmud that ...
DanF's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
76 views

Why, in Yom Kippour and RH davening, when we say Tefilas responsively, does sometimes the baal Tefila go first, sometimes the congregation?

Why, in Yom Kippour and RH davening, when we say Tefilas responsively, does sometimes the baal Tefila go first, sometimes the congregation? For example, Shema Koilanu, aveenu Malkainu, the Baal tefila ...
Ed Rosenberg's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
95 views

Praying directly before an aron

It is very common to have a pictorially adorned curtain on an aron kodesh (cabinet that hold the Torah scrolls in a synagogue). It is also very common to have the shatz (prayer leader) stand before ...
msh210's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
289 views

Why is the Hineni prayer said before the silent Amida?

The Hineni prayer is said by the Chazan before the silent Amida on the high holidays. In it, the Chazan admits his personal flaws but asks still to be allowed to be a righteous and competent ...
rosends's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
46 views

Seeking downloadable practice files for High Holiday Shacharit practice

IY"H, I shall be the Shaliach Tzibbur for 2nd day Rosh Hashanna Shacharit and Yom Kippur. I feel that I know the nuscah well, as I have been doing this for many years. However, I could use some tunes ...
DanF's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
595 views

Anenu if planning to break the fast

I have two related questions about the fast day addition to the Amida "Anenu b'yom tzom taaniteinu": If an individual is fasting when he says mincha, but he plans to break the fast after mincha, ...
Ze'ev misses Monica's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
247 views

Origin of custom of cantor walking for "Hineni"

Prior to the Musaph service on the High Holidays, the cantor recites a prayer called Hineni, named after the first word of the prayer meaning "Behold, I am...". The prayer's contents is mainly the ...
DanF's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
80 views

Can a Shaliach Tzibur recite the High Holiday piyutim in English?

Some shuls (this seems common in non-Orthodox shuls) have a lot of English responsive reading during the High Holiday services. Usually the "larger" piyutim, i.e., those that are recited while the ...
DanF's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
46 views

May the repetition of the Amida be said with only 6 people answering Omein but a Minyan is present? [duplicate]

My shul would often only have 10 people present but some would daven Shemono Esrei longer and so Chazoras Hashatz would be started once there were 6 people to answer Omein. Is this correct and if so ...
user9773's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
168 views

If the prayer leader does not distinguish between Gimmel and Ghimmel for Amida he can't be yotzi for others

I was at a Shabbat table and someone told me that, according to Hacham Ovadia Yosef, the one leading the prayers cannot motzi others (i.e. cannot relieve others' prayer obligations) if he does not ...
Aaron's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
151 views

Origin for different styles in splitting up El Adon and Lecha Dodi

In most Nusach Ashkenaz shuls that I have attended, the congregation and chazzan sing Lecha Dodi and Kel Adon together. In most Hassidic minyanim (they are Nusach Sefard. I say "Hassidic" since the ...
DanF's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
275 views

What is considered a picture for not davening in front of it

I heard that you can't daven in front of a picture What does this included? A mogen Dovid? A flag of israel? A lion? What if it is part of the paroiches or Aron kodesh .... Similar Davening in ...
hazoriz's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
256 views

gedolim on "The Jazz Singer"

The film The Jazz Singer is about a Jewish boy who goes off the derech and portrays him positively. What was the contemporary (1927) rabbinic response to the film and did cantor Yosselle Rosenblatt ...
Clint Eastwood's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
148 views

Is it permissible to switch the chazzan in the middle of shacharit on a weekday?

In Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 55:3, the Rama states that if there was a minyan for the beginning of Shmoneh Esrei and some left, the chazzan can say up to (and including) Kaddish Shalem (after Uva ...
Scimonster's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
157 views

If a chazzan has to repeat Shmoneh Esrei, can he use the chazarat hashatz for that?

Let's say a chazzan makes a mistake in his personal Shmoneh Esrei that he would have to repeat it for (e.g. missed yaaleh vyavoh). Can he use the chazarat hashatz as his required repetition, or must ...
Scimonster's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
269 views

A Less-Observant Jew Leading Prayers

Can a Jew who does not observe Shabbat act as a shaliach tzibur (to lead prayers on behalf the congregation)? I know that many are lenient and find reasons to count a mechalel shabbat for a minyan, ...
Mike's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
337 views

If we repeat amida to help those who cannot otherwise pray, what of maariv?

As discussed in answers to this related question, we repeat the amida of shacharis and mincha to aid those who do not have a siddur, have not memorized the brachot, or who cannot read, but we don't do ...
Yehuda W's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Why does the chazzan or gabbai recite the "El malei rachamim" prayer?

Wikipedia states "El malei rachamim" is a funeral prayer used by the Ashkenazi Jewish community. The chazzan recites it, for the ascension of the souls of the dead, during the funeral, going ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
129 views

Using a different text of Birkat Minim

It is known that we remove a sha"tz for omitting Birkat Minim. However, there are multiple texts that I know of, including: Vilmalshinim, Laminim, and Vilam'shumadim. There are also small variants in ...
Noach MiFrankfurt's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
371 views

Origin of custom to switch Shli'ach Tzibur in Shacharit

In a number of shuls, it has become a minhag to switch Shat"z during the weekday Shacharit at these locations. I am assuming Nusach Ashkenaz in my examples: One person says only Birkot Hashachar -> ...
DanF's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
159 views

How to start שחרית at the עמוד if one's already said ישתבח

Seemingly, if one is ahead of the congregation and reaches "Yishtabach", he should recite it. Now, suppose he does so, and then the fellow in charge of getting people to lead the services comes over ...
msh210's user avatar
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