Three steps back for the chazan?

Hi,

Normally, one concludes the amidah by taking three steps backward. A chazan does not do this after concluding the repetition of the amidah, though; the chazan's three steps backward at the end of the kaddish shalem [whole kaddish] count for him.

If the minyan switches chazanim before the kaddish shalem, then the chazan who recited the amidah should take three steps backward.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:96)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Saying the wrong Modim

Hi,

If, during the repetition of the amidah, the chazan says the community's modim d'rabbanan instead of the modim that he is supposed to say, he should not go back and say the appropriate modim.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:91:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dragging it out

Hi,

If a chazan sings v'imru Amen in Kaddish for an extended period of time, one should say Amen and not wait for the end. The essential text is already concluded (v'imru Amen simply means, "And let us say Amen"), and the extended tune constitutes an inappropriate interruption between the text and the Amen. [Note: The author does not define "extended period of time".]

If a chazan sings the end of a blessing (such as in the repetition of the amidah) for an extended period of time, one should not say Amen until the blessing is complete.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:88:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The chazan's "Kedushah"

Hi,

The chazan should say "Kadosh kadosh" and the other key lines of Kedushah along with the community, and not wait to say them until after the community has concluded saying them.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:87)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Picking up as chazan

Hi,

One who comes into the synagogue while the community is reciting the silent amidah should not serve as the chazan to repeat the amidah aloud unless he first recites the silent amidah as well. However, this rule may be waived where no one else can serve as the chazan.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:86)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Breakaway minyanim

Hi,

One should not create multiple minyanim, as this would violate the principle of "In greater numbers, there is greater glory for the king." However, one may create a separate minyan where there is a compelling reason, such as the desire to honour one's parent by leading services, as chazan, on the yahrtzeit.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:65)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

While waiting to repeat the amidah

Hi,

The chazan should not speak between completion of his silent amidah and the start of the repetition of the amidah. Even learning Torah during that time is inappropriate; he should use the time to prepare himself to lead the davening.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:50:16)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Switching the chazan after Yishtabach

Hi,

Normally, those who have one chazan lead psukei d'zimra and another chazan lead Shacharit will switch them before Yishtabach. However, one may also make the switch after Barchu. One may even switch in both places, having a chazan lead just for Yishtabach/Kaddish/Barchu.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:49)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

The chazan's "Yehei Shmeih" recitation

Hi,

There are two legitimate views regarding the chazan's recitation of the Yehei Shmeih rabbah mevarach l'alam... line of kaddish. One view says that this should be recited aloud after the community's recitation of that line, perhaps in order to fulfill the obligation for those who do not know how to recite it personally. A second view is that this should be recited along with the community.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:44:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The chazan's spot

Hi,

The chazan [a.k.a. שליח ציבור] is supposed to stand before the Aron Kodesh, and the language used by works of halachah in describing this indicates that this is a requirement. The chazan may not choose another spot from which to lead services.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:42)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A chazan who cannot put his legs close together

Hi,

We have noted that one is supposed to recite the amidah with his legs as close as possible to each other, to mirror the prophet Yechezkel's description of single-legged malachim (Yechezkel 1:7).

One who cannot do this should keep his legs as close to each other as possible, and is qualified to serve as shaliach tzibbur (chazan).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:38:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A sinful mourner

Hi,

One who is known to be a violator of Torah should not serve as shaliach tzibbur, leading the davening, even if he is a mourner. However, one should not cause strife within a synagogue over this.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Three steps back

Hi,

The sh'liach tzibbur (chazan) takes three steps back after the private amidah, even though the primary purpose of this amidah is simply to prepare for the public amidah he about to recite. There is no prayer without these three steps.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:70:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Where does the Chazan stand?

Hi,

The chazan should stand in front of the Aron Kodesh when leading davening. However, if there are so many people present that he will not be audible from in front, he may lead from the bimah in the center of the synagogue.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:10)

[See, too, this post and this post.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A true 'Beginners' Minyan"

Hi,

If a minyan includes many who cannot recite the amidah, the chazan should recite the words of the entire amidah aloud with them, word for word, so that they will recite the amidah and so that they will learn it for themselves.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chazan's recitation of Kedushah

Hi,

The chazan should state the responses of kedushah [Kadosh Kadosh, Baruch Kvod, Yimloch] aloud, separate from the community's recitation of those responses. In this way, he will fulfill the obligation of individuals who have not yet completed the amidah, who then listen to his responses as their own.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chazan's nusach

Hi,

A chazan is supposed to use his private amidah to prepare for the public repetition. Therefore, a chazan must use the same nusach in his private amidah as in the public recitation, even if that is different from the nusach he normally uses when davening privately.

For more on chazzanim and public-private nusach, please click here.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Where does the Chazan stand for the amidah?

Hi,

The "amud" where the Chazan stands for the amidah should be centered along the wall toward which the shul davens and where the Aron is located, close to the Aron. However, this is not a hard and fast requirement, such that one could not daven in a shul that was arranged differently.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:28)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Chazzanim who repeat words

Hi,

If chazzanim repeat words in the course of a berachah, but they do not actually jumble the order of the words, this does not constitute an interruption.

If chazzanim jumble the words (as in וקוראי עונג שבת וקדשתו שבת), then if the new order changes the meaning of the sentence so that it indicates something different, the chazzan must return to the start of the berachah. If the new order is consistent with the original meaning of the sentence, the chazzan did interrupt, but he need not return to the beginning of the berachah. If the new order renders the words meaningless, then if the change was intentional, then he must return to the beginning of the berachah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:22)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Position of the Chazan

Hi,

We have been looking at synagogue construction.

The chazan should not stand on the bimah when reciting the amidah. Rather, he should stand on the floor, in front of the Aron.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 150:5; Mishneh Berurah 150:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai