Questions tagged [chazzan-prayer-leader]
Questions about the person who leads Jewish prayers when a minyan is present.
88
questions
21
votes
8answers
1k views
Why do we still do chazarat hashatz?
This question assumes that the purpose of chazarat hashatz is to allow for those who were unable to say their own shmoneah esrei (assumedly due to Hebrew illiteracy) to fulfill their obligation to ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
When may one do a Hechi Kedushah?
May a Chazzan decide on his own to do a Hechi Kedushah, or are there rules for when it is appropriate/mandated?
2
votes
1answer
471 views
Following minhagim when praying in a different community?
Say you go to a minyan of a different community than your own, how should you behave?
When being hazan do you use their pronunciation or yours?
Do you pray your nusach or theirs?
Do you put on talit ...
7
votes
1answer
370 views
Why no repetition of the Shema in shul?
We repeat the amida in shul for the sake of those who do not know the amida. We read the birkat hamzaon aloud for the sake of those who do not know the blessings. In both cases, we assume that many ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
5
votes
3answers
544 views
Why is a prayer leader still removed for omitting V'lamalshinim?
TL;DR
The Ashkenazi nusach of V'lamalshinim omits explicit mention of heretics. Therefore, recitation or omission of this blessing by the prayer leader seems to no longer serve as a signal for whether ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Being Shaliach Tzibbur in a Congregation with a different Nusach
In Yalkut Yosef OC 101:10 rules that a Sephardi who is davening in an Ashkenazi minyan should not daven Nusach Ashkenaz as shaliach tzibbur. He can only be shaliach tzibbur if the minyan agrees to let ...
8
votes
1answer
143 views
What is the reason for the lights lit on the desk of the prayer leader?
What is the reason for the candles or lights lit on the desk of the chazzan (prayer leader)?
In a shul today I saw candles lit on a table at least 6 feet from the reader. Does that fulfill the ...
16
votes
4answers
357 views
How to say go-al Yisroel before Shacharis Amida
When the leader gets to just before the Shacharis Amida, how should he say the blessing
go-al Yisroel: aloud or saying the word Yisroel so the end of it cannot be heard?
15
votes
4answers
350 views
How do we know what the Chazzan should say aloud?
In many siddurim, the text indicates a position, toward the end of each normal paragraph of prayer, where the Chazzan is supposed to start reading aloud, so that everyone knows when it's time to go on ...
10
votes
2answers
602 views
Refusing to Daven from the Amud
According to Bruchos 34a, one should initially refuse to Daven for the Amud, so as to feel unworthy of the duty and to not look too eager to do it. The first time one is asked he should refuse, the ...
7
votes
2answers
185 views
Shliach Tzibbur and Tashlumim for missed tefillah
The M"B in Siman 108 Sif-Katan 4 brings that someone who missed a tefillah and is now the shliach tzibbur may use the chazaras ha'shatz for his tashlumim.
(Makor in Radbaz Siman 361.)
The Radbaz ...
7
votes
5answers
423 views
Answering Baruch Hu UVaruch Shemo and Amen while learning
If someone is giving Shiur in the same room as people Davening, do the people learning answer Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo and Amen to the Hazarat HaShatz?
4
votes
1answer
243 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 -> ...
3
votes
2answers
278 views
What should a chazan do if he has theological problems with the congregation's text?
There are several places in the selichot where there are controversial phrases, e.g. addressing prayer to angels not G-d. I'm not asking for opinions on this, but I've heard some people just skip ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
Shaliach Tzibbur missed out one or more blessings in the repetition of the amidah. What to do later?
What should one do if the Shaliach Tzibbur missed out one or more blessings in the repetition of the amidah and it was only pointed out to him after he had finished?
Does he have to repeat the amidah ...
30
votes
8answers
1k views
How can we get people to stop talking (much, loudly) during minyan?
I know that lots of minyanim have the talking problem; has anybody solved it?
I daven with a weekday shacharit minyan that has a noise problem. A couple of people are the main sources of the problem ...
18
votes
12answers
4k views
What are the oldest Jewish songs (tune plus words) that are still popular today?
When I say "song", I mean the combination of tune and words; and yes I'm probably thinking Ashkenazically here. It seems like any European old-timer I've met knows the "good old fashioned" tune for ...
11
votes
3answers
580 views
Can you learn during chazarat hashatz?
Are you allowed to learn Torah silently during the chazzan's repetition of Shmonah Esrei?
(This is a case where you are davening with that minyan.)
7
votes
2answers
209 views
whoever leads s'lichos should lead the rest of the day's prayers: why s'lichos?
Rama 581:1 says whoever leads s'lichos should lead the rest of the day's prayers, and Magen Avraham, followed by others including Mishna B'rura, says this is due to "hamaschil b'mitzva om'rim lo g'mor"...
7
votes
2answers
260 views
Why are different kaddishes said by different people?
The "Mourners' Kaddish" and the "Rabbis' Kaddish" are said by mourners: either all instances are said by all mourners in the synagogue simultaneously, or each mourner gets a turn at one kaddish, or ...
11
votes
3answers
294 views
When there are four aveilim (mourners), Is it better to have one minyan of 40 people or 4 minyonim of ten each?
Today I was in a shul where there were four parallel mincha services because four mourners wanted to lead the services. I thought there was a principle of ××Ø× ×¢× ×××Ø×Ŗ ×××?
What sources are there that ...
6
votes
2answers
469 views
Guitar during public weekday prayers
Is anyone aware of any halakhic opinion regarding the playing of musical instruments, guitar for example, in shul on a weekday, not Shabbos. Does it have the same religious stigma and opposition as ...
5
votes
6answers
751 views
Is B'rich Shmei said while the Torah sits in the Aron, or as it's held (by whom?)
Sing "vayhi binsoa" as the Aron is opened by -- let's call him Mr. Opener
Brich Shmei is said
Chazan is now holding Torah scroll and says Shema (or Gadlu).
I've seen different things happen for Brich ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
How to start ש××Ø××Ŗ at the ×¢××× if one's already said ×ש×Ŗ××
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
80 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: ...
2
votes
2answers
317 views
Nusach for silent Amida when chazzan in an other-nusach congregation
My understanding (based, if I recall correctly, on R' Moshe Feinstein) is that when I pray in a congregation that uses a different version of the prayers (nusach) from the one I usually use, I should ...
2
votes
1answer
125 views
Splitting up Shacharis between two Chiyuvim
I have Davened in a few Shuls where they have split up Shacharis between two Chiyuvim. (One Davens until Ashrei after Tachanun / One davens from Ashrei until the end.) What is the source for doing so?
4
votes
1answer
361 views
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
847 views
Is there any basis for Chabad minhagim regarding tallit gadol?
I often daven at Chabad shuls and I have noticed that they have some particulars regarding tallit usage inconsistent with the rest of Ashkenazi Jewry, including:
not wearing when receiving an aliyah ...
13
votes
7answers
1k views
Which parts of the prayer service must be said clearly out loud?
I've heard a few different opinions on this. During longer prayer services, such as Shacharit on Shabbat, at least in Nusach Sefard, Pesukei D'Zimrah is quite long and there is a tendency for the ...
10
votes
2answers
2k 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
222 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
75 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. ?
3
votes
1answer
113 views
Explain the use of the chazzan to end paragraphs
My understanding of the "history" of the shaliach tzibbur (shat"z) is that few people could read or pronounce Hebrew, and, there were few siddurim printed. Thus, the use of an "expert" to represent ...
3
votes
2answers
146 views
Should the Chazzan say the pesukim of Kedusho loud?
In the repetition of the Amida, it seems (see Teshuvos Igros Moshe 3 (9), OC 104 (7), OC 125 Biur Halocho d.h. "elo shoskin ..") that the Chazzan should say the pesukim of Kedusho loud enough so that ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
Ritual immersion for the cantor
I pray with Chassidim. Before someone begins to lead the prayer, they ask if he underwent ritual immersion that morning.
Is there a (and if so, what is the) source for this requiring the cantor to ...
2
votes
2answers
318 views
V'kara zeh el zeh v'amar - When does who bow left then right here?
At the beginning of Kedusha, the Chazzan says v'kara zeh el zeh v'amar. I've seen three types of chazzanim with regard to bowing left at the first zeh and right at the second:
bow left and right at ...
7
votes
1answer
160 views
Can the chazzan use the vernacular quietly?
When saying a private portion of the service, such as pesukei de-zimra, may the shaliach tzibur (aka chazzan, or the person leading services) use English, and switch to Hebrew for the portions said ...
7
votes
1answer
120 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
309 views
May the prayer leader drink water (to lubricate his voice) during the weekday prayers?
I have seen the person leading the prayers taking a drink of water (to lubricate his voice) during the weekday prayers.
Assuming he made a blessing (for the water, as usual before eating or drinking ...
3
votes
0answers
113 views
Does one need to fulfill the 248 words when reciting Shema outside the timeframe of Kri'at Shema?
O.C. 61:3 states that one should recite a total of 248 words when saying Kri'at Shema. As there are only 245 words, the last 3 words are fulfilled by listening to the Shat'z repeat the × ××ק××× ×××Ŗ. ...
3
votes
1answer
201 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, ...
3
votes
1answer
153 views
Can one switch chazzanim at non-traditional places in the service to accommodate a mourner who came late?
Can one switch chazzanim at non-traditional places in the service to accomodate a mourner who came late? For example, Reuven is asked to lead the prayers (say mincha). He says āAshreiā, āKaddishā and ...
3
votes
2answers
166 views
What if there's a Minyan of Aveilim?
It is my understanding that when one is in the year of mourning following the death of certain relatives, he is not allowed to lead ["daven from the amud"] certain prayers (such as those on Shabbos, ...
2
votes
0answers
109 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
143 views
Kedusha after Tefila
Today, in our Shul (in Shaharit) a man walked in a little late and I guess he didn't have enough time to catch up to our Minyan. After Tefila, he asked the Gabbai if he could say his own Shemona Esre, ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
In contemporary minyanim, can the shaliach tzibur fulfill the mitzvah of tefilah for someone who is listening?
Whereas one person commonly fulfills the kiddush obligation for the entire table on shabbat and yom tov, I never see anyone fulfill the mitzvah of tefilah by listening to the shaliach tzibur, and ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Is it right to point out that the Chazzan omitted a brocho in his repetition of the amida?
In this question we learnt that if the Chazzan left out a brocho in his repetition of the amida he would have to repeat the repetition.
Is it right to point out that the Chazzan omitted a brocho?
...
