Chazanim tune up for Pesach

By Judah S. Harris

Issue of Feb. 20, 2009 / 26 Shevat 5769

A group of 45 chazanim (cantors) and others interested in the nusach of tefilla joined last Sunday's Mid-Winter Conference of the Cantorial Council of America, an affiliate of Yeshiva University's Belz School of Jewish Music. The half-day program was held at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. In his opening remarks, Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, spiritual leader of the shul, greeted the participants and quipped, "Welcome to the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. Chazanim aren't welcome here."

Even in earlier eras, when chazanim were more frequent fixtures of

the synagogue experience, they were still the subject of jokes, humor

that focused on many of the novelties of Jewish life, and that seemed

to find repeatedly relevant material in the unique expression and

intonation offered by the cantor who led the synagogue service.

But, as Rabbi Schonfeld pointed out, chazanim are an integral part of

a fundamental aspect of Jewish life: tefilla, specifically tefilla

b'tzibbur (prayer with a congregation).

"The old-time feeling for a chazan in the Modern Orthodox community,

simply doesn't exist, unfortunately," said Rabbi Schonfeld, conveying

that without that appreciation, sensitivity to tefilla has been lost.

His son, Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, the Assistant Rabbi, later remarked

that chazanim are not entertainers, rather inspirers of the

congregation.

In his opening remarks, Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld,

spiritual leader of the shul, greeted the participants and quipped, "Welcome to the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. Chazanim aren't welcome here."

Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS presented a shiur on "How

the Sheliach Tzibbur (cantor) Can Raise the Level of Kavanah

(concentration) in Tefilah." He raised a few questions, including why

Chana, wife of Elkanah and mother of Shmuel, is our primary source for

prayer. We learn many halachot of tefilla from her, but there were

others before her, including Sarah and the other matriarchs, who were

childless and prayed, and yet Chana remains the paradigmatic example.

Rabbi Goldwicht suggested that it's not "what" Chana prayed for,

rather that she felt she had a "chance," that this time she might be

heard. Her husband didn't see new opportunity, since past attempts had

failed. Chana declared to G-d that her barenness was causing people to

question His capacity to provide a child, her situation was causing a

"desecration of His Name." Grant me a child, says Chana, and he will

be Yours. Her request for a child was not for her own benefit (or at

least not hers alone).

This must be the motivation of the chazan representing the

congregation, stressed Rabbi Goldwicht. "When we daven for the

tzibbur, we say 'HaKadosh Boruch Hu, for You, not for us.'"

The melodic parts of the conference were offered by Cantors Bernard Beer, Director of the Belz School and Sherwood Goffin, the school's Outreach Coordinator and an Instructor, and long-time Chazan of Lincoln Square Synagogue. Cantor Eric Freeman, who leads the choir at the Belz School and in Washington Heights at the Breur's congregation (he is also Cantor at Lincoln Park Jewish Center in Yonkers), accompanied Cantors Beer and Goffin on keyboard, as the conference attendees followed and sang along from booklets of sheet music that had been distributed.

Cantor Beer, an expert in the knowledge of nusach, presented a range

of motifs incorporated in the Shalosh Regalim prayers, including minor

and major modes as sung in Hallel, that correspond, in part, to the

past and future Geulah. Cantor Goffin, presented on "Innovative

Melodies for Hallel and Haggadah," sharing some of his favorites,

including Carlebach and Chassidic compositions, songs that were taught

at Camp Hili, and a new V'Hi She-Omda (sung by Yaakov Schwekey), that

he arranged in recent weeks.

But Goffin, who himself has popularized a treasure chest of

contemporary and traditional Jewish melodies over the decades ––

including the 1970s Eitz Chaim tune by Tanchum Portnoy, sung in most

shuls while returning the Torah to the ark –– reminded the audience

that "nusach must be primary, niggun must fit." The Hallel is one of

the most sung part of the davening, but Goffin warned "Don't sing the

entire Hallel," noting that he sees "two extremes": those people "who

sing too much" and those "who sing too little." The nusach must not

fall by the wayside.

Although all congregations yearn for a proper and meaningful davening

experience, it can still seem elusive to many. Often, the answer can

be found very close by. A skilled chazan or ba'al tefilla can

transform a positive Shabbos or yom tov experience into a superlative

one.

Judah S. Harris is available to shuls as a guest Baal Tefilla for

contacted via his website: www. judahsharris.com/visit.