Q. The cantor in my synagogue tends to sing rather slowly, emphasizing every musical note. When it comes to parts of the prayers for which he has no melody, he whispers them to himself, and quickly. Our synagogue finishes later than most others while some people say that they cannot keep up at the silent sections.
Should the cantor say also the non-melodious sections audibly or is the way that the cantor is conducting the prayers normal and in keeping with tradition and those who have difficulty should get used to it or find a different congregation that better suits them?
How important is it to have a chazan that sings the prayers?
A. Talmud (Chulin 91) teaches that the Maalachei Hashores, do not begin chanting their heavenly shira, until the Jewish Nation commence to sing their song. Medresh Shlomo (p.102) deduces from the above that we are dealing with actual songs, as the sidur describes in regards to the Maalachei Hashores. It is also well recorded the importance and grandness of the songs that the Levyim intoned during the avoda in the Beis Hamikdosh.
Kol HaTor (The Voice of the Turtledove, written by Horav Hillel Rivlin of Shklov zt’l, a disciple of the Vilna Gaon), praises outstandingly the congregations that daven the tefilos with song and shira as the minhag of the Sephardic congregations.
Matte Efraim (625) quotes from Zohar, Shloh and Sefer Chasidim, the value and standing that nigunim have in the invocation and kavonos of tefilos. They mention that Shira has the same gematria as Tefila.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a quoted the Beur Hagra on the posuk (Divrei Hayomim 1: 23: 4): Of these, (Lenatzeach) to conduct at the service of the House of Hashem, were twenty-four thousand (Leviim). The Gaon explains that with the power of shira, one can conquer the yetzer horaa
Our sages placed great emphasis on the importance of nominating a proper chazan or shaliach tzibur to lead prayers and song. Sdei Chemed (Maareches Chazaka Bemitzvos 8: 10), quote numerous opinions that due to the high and elevated requirements needed to attain those positions, chazaka and tenure that can be inherited apply to them.
Shulchan Aruch (O.H.53: 4, 11) rules on the importance of the Shaliach Tzibur having a nice and pleasant voice, and if he extends his tefila with the intention of expressing his joy of being able to thank Hashem, brochos should come to him. However, if his purpose is just to show off his voice, the tefila is considered indecorous and unbecoming. He adds that the chazan should take well into consideration the tircha destziburo or the excessive burden and vexation a too lengthy tefila can become for the congregation.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that considering all the above, one should daven in a minyan where the tefila can be said completely, properly and with the intended kavana.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
The second question you fielded quite nicely. However, the first question was missed entirely. Again:
"Should the cantor say also the non-melodious sections audibly or is the way that the cantor is conducting the prayers normal and in keeping with tradition and those who have difficulty should get used to it or find a different congregation that better suits them?"
Important Numbers
