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Guidelines for a Chazan

One of the essential qualifications for leading the davening in shul is a pleasant, melodious voice. Sefer Chassidim writes that a person blessed with a pleasant voice should use it for davening to Hashem and praising Him, and not for mundane purposes.

On Shabbos in particular, the shliach tzibbur (individual leading the services) is expected to daven loudly, beautifully, and at length in order to inspire the mispallelim (congregants) and enhance their davening. Shulchan Aruch states that a shliach tzibbur who davens at length, utilizing his voice to inspire his fellow mispallelim, should be commended, but one whose intention is simply to show off his vocal abilities is contemptible.

It’s related that some gedolei Yisrael would keep this text of Shulchan Aruch in front of them while serving as shliach tzibbur in order to be constantly mindful of their objective: to enhance the davening of those present, not to exhibit their talent. Halacha2Go #440

A Chazzan who Makes Mistakes

A shliach tzibbur should be one who is familiar with the pesukim from Torah, Neviim, and Kesuvim that are so numerous in the tefilos, so as not make mistakes in pronunciation. There are poskim who say that even a temporary shliach tzibbur should not be appointed to the position unless he is capable of articulating the words smoothly and correctly. Nevertheless, the custom is that for an occasional yahrtzeit or similar occasion we are lenient and allow people to go to the amud even if they are not very proficient in the pesukim. There are many reasons for this leniency. One is the difficulty of maintaining this standard, since many people have yahrtzeit throughout the year and it is very important for them to daven at the amud; we do not want to create distinctions among community members, causing unpleasant situations. Another reason is that nowadays the shliach tzibbur is not actually exempting us from our personal obligation: each of us davens on our own, and consequently, there is some room for leniency. However, it is definitely preferable that the person who davens at the omud should say the words properly, without mistakes. Halacha2Go #176

Q. Can a minyan l’chatchila change the chazzan to a different chazzan for chazaras hashatz or is it preferable to keep the original chazzan?

A. The custom is not to change the chazzan, although it is permitted and should be done when there is a valid reason. #18042*

The Friday Night “Chazaras HaShatz”

Q. Does the chazzan have to have his feet together during ברכת מעין שבע on Friday night?

A. The chazzan should stand with his feet together.

Q. How about bowing when saying the שם ה׳?

A. Regarding bowing, there are different opinions on the matter. The general minhag nowadays is that the chazzan doesn’t bow. Some do a slight bend. One should not deviate from the local custom. #18566*

Chzazan in English?

Q. I am an educator at a school where many students can’t read well. We have attempted various methods to get our students involved in Davening including giving reward for being chazzan. Is it permitted for one that is not fluent in Hebrew to be chazzan in English? If yes, do any parts have to be in Lashon HaKodesh?

A. Davening should be said in Lashon HaKodesh only. The words that were instituted in our davening by our sages cannot be accurately translated into other languages. Additionally, many authorities forbade a chazzan to daven in other languages.

However, for an individual davening privately (not as a chazzan), if they do not understand the general meaning of the words they should say it in English, but it is preferred that they should daven in Lashon HaKodesh and have a general understanding of what they are saying. This is especially relevant for Shema and Shemone Esrei.

In your situation, I would advise using a transliteration of the words in Lashon HaKodesh for those that have difficulty reading it in the original.

If you feel that by keeping to Lashon HaKodesh they would not daven, it is definitely better to daven in other languages than not davening at all.

When davening in English, it’s very critical that the correct translation of Hashem’s name be used, that is the word “G-d”, or according to many – even “L-rd”, but not “Hashem”. #3344*

Bowing At Barchu

Q. Should the chazzan remain bowing between “Barchu es…” and “Baruch Hashem…”, or return erect and then bow again?

A. The chazzan should bend his head and say ברכו את and pick up his head while saying Hashem’s name, and then bend his head again at ברוך and then pick it up at Hashem’s name. This is also the Rebbe’s custom as Chazan.

Talis For A Bochur Who is a chazzan

Q. I’m a bachur going to a Shliach for Rosh Hashana. If I will be chazzan for either Shacharis or Musaf, should I wear a Tallis? If yes, do I make a bracha or not?

A. You don’t need to wear a tallis. If the congregation is particular about this, you should wear it just over the shoulders (together with a hat), so it shouldn’t seem fully as a tallis gadol. In this case, you should use a borrowed tallis – not a communal tallis — so you won’t need to make a bracha. (Regarding Selichos, and Maariv and Neilah of Yom Kippur – where Yud Gimmel Middos is said – see #5657). #16579

*See sources at asktherav.com

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