Shabbat Parashat Chaye Sara Cheshvan 20 5772
November 17th 2011
Shalom,
There is a somewhat morbid joke in Yiddish that says: "The loss of your father made you an orphan, but not a Shliach Tzibur."
Unfortunately, this joke illustrates a challenging reality.
In last week's Shalom from Jerusalem, I mentioned that during the first year after losing a parent, the custom in the Ashkenazi tradition has become that if possible, the mourner has the obligation to lead services during weekdays. In most synagogues, the custom has become so prevalent that it is rare to see a Shliach Tzibur on a Monday night (for an example) that does not recite the mourner's Kaddish as well.
During the past few generations, Jewish education throughout the world has been improving to the extent that far greater numbers of Jews learn to master the language and the practices, thus being able to effectively lead services as well. However, I wonder if they are really capable of being proper leaders, as serving as a true Shliach Tzibut? What are the practical results of this custom?
Obviously there are different levels of mastery of the text or knowledge of the Halachot; these skills can be acquired. But what about a nice voice? Singing in the proper Nusach (musical frame)? Personality?
When describing the Shliach Tzibur, the Halacha often does not separate between the permanent one and the one who leads services only on the occasion of a Yahrtzeit or during the year of mourning. One can find Halachic Responsa describing the qualities that a Shliach Tzibur should have. Among those requirements are knowledge of the Hebrew language, the Halachot, proper Nusach, reading Bible, having a nice voice, and being accepted by the congregation. However, these qualities are subjective, so there is no clarity about the level of skill or talent that is a minimum, or acceptable in each of the categories. Every community decides what is more important. No one Shliach Tzibur has it all to the same extent. This is why we can find even permanent Shlichei Tzibur who do not have an impressive voice or musical ability on the one hand, but are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to Hebrew and the Halachot associated with the job, on the other. The opposite can also be true; we can find those who have gorgeous voices but lack in knowledge. Throughout the generations, in many places, congregants preferred cantors who could sing and inspire, even if it was clear that this was their only strength.
Unfortunately, the more "important" the service (or at least it appears that way on the surface) the closer attention we pay to who is going to lead it. Many people who lead services on a daily basis would not be considered as suitable to lead during the High Holidays. Sure, we should not take a Monday night Ma'ariv less seriously than Musaf on Yom Kippur, but that is the reality in every aspect of our lives. The rarer the event, the more important it becomes. That is human nature.
The Halacha is very clear in determining who has priority in leading the service, during the weekday. For example, a person in Shiva has priority over the one in Shloshim (the first 30 days after a death). Someone who lost a parent has a priority over one who lost a sibling or a spouse. A member has a priority over a guest, etc.
I have collected these parameters and have given them to Howard Wolf and the Ritual Committee, so that decisions can be made correctly and unpleasant situations avoided. However, some of the criteria are widely accepted and observed, while others are ignored. For example, one who is more knowledgeable and whose voice is nicer has a priority over others. Why is that?
I think that as much as we would like to encourage and allow those in mourning to fulfill their Chiyuv, (obligation) we also must not forget that the entire congregation is affected by these decisions. If someone reads with mistakes, it not only creates a situation where we send an unqualified person to represent us before God, but also detracts from the ability of others to benefit from the T'filah. I can tell you that sometimes, when I hear someone "butchering" the text, it makes me so upset that I cannot have the right focus in my Davening.
There is a story about one of the old Chassidic Rabbis that once was seen rushing to Daven Mincha on Shabbat. His Chassidim asked him why he was rushing to do so since he already Davened Mincha earlier. He replied that since the Chazzan didn't use the proper Nusach (musically) he felt that he did not yet fulfill the obligation.
Could you imagine walking into Shul on Kol Nidrei night and hearing the Chazzan not use the traditional melody for Kol Nidrei? How would you feel?! Most places I know are careful to choose Ba'alei Tefilah on Shabbat and Holidays who know the proper Nusach and melodies, but what about on weekdays? I wonder how many know the proper Nusach of Shacharit, Mincha and Ma'ariv.
In order to help with these issues, I have decided to post on our website the entire weekday T'filah in the proper Nusach. I hope that people will take advantage of it and use it well, and make sure that both the Hebrew as well as the musical aspect (to the best of their capability) is not compromised. I would be most happy to work with anyone who wishes to make sure that we do all we can in both honoring the memory of our departed ones, as well as honoring the Daveing of our fellow congregants.
One beautiful and practical custom I have seen in many Shuls occurs when there are several Avelim, and they divide the morning service into 2-3 sections, allowing more people to fulfill the Mitzvah. Someone who has not done it before might be intimidated by leading the entire service. Someone who was unavoidably late should also have the option to lead part of the service. I think we should encourage people to serve as a Shlichei Tzibur and do what we can to improve the quality of the Daveing.
The Rabbis speak of the importance of leading services during a Yahrtzeit or the year of mourning, but conclude that there is greater value by relinquishing the "right" to others.
Sometimes, we want to do something so badly, we lose prospective about what is really important. I have no doubt that encouraging people to take upon themselves this important Mitzvah and enabling them to perform it in the best possible way is important and would enhance personal and communal growth. Nevertheless, we must be sensitive to the needs of all around us, and in this context, we should keep in mind that perhaps sometimes the better choice would be to relinquish an individual right for the greater good.
Shabbat Shalom from Stamford,
Cantor Arik Wollheim 
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