From what I have seen, other than tachanun (nefilat apayim) the chazzan stands for the entire davening. Why is this so? Why not sit for things like krias shema?
asked Jun 23, 2013 at 2:46
not-allowed to change my namenot-allowed to change my name
12.5k2 gold badges36 silver badges91 bronze badges
-
3My guess is practical -- between needing a place to put that chair and needing to be visible/audible to the kehal enough for people to know where he is, it's probably easier to just stand. Assuming he does sit down for leining, it's not that long to just stand for most services.– Monica CellioCommented Jun 23, 2013 at 4:39
-
1See perhaps Megillah 21a– Double AA ♦Commented Jun 23, 2013 at 8:06
-
4They don't call it an "Amud" for nothing.– MenachemCommented Jun 23, 2013 at 19:50
-
3Kabvod hazibur would be my guess. BTW I have seen Chazzonim with health issues sit during parts of the Chazzoras Hashatz on Yomim Noraim.– Danny SchoemannCommented Jun 24, 2013 at 9:26
-
1Are we specifically talking about Ashkenazim?– WAFCommented Nov 19, 2013 at 12:22
|
Show 2 more comments
2 Answers
He is the the Shliach - the emissary - to the King, so to speak, and a emissary always stands before a king.
-
Interesting... A source would improve the quality of this answer. Commented Jun 8, 2014 at 8:18
This is addressed by the gemarah Yerushalmi Sotah 7:4 which learns the idea out of the pasuk in Devarim 27:26
אָרוּר, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָקִים אֶת-דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה-הַזֹּאת
The gemarah explains that the standing (up) of the torah implies that the Chazzan should stand.
ארור אשר לא יקים את דברי התורה הזאת. וכי יש תורה נופלת. שמעון בן יקים אומר זה החזן שהוא עומד.
CF Ramban ad loc who seems to apply this only to the lifting of the torah (hagbah) but I believe the plain reading of the gemarah supports my answer.
answered Dec 14, 2014 at 4:00
