Hazzan

A hazzan or chazzan (Hebrew for "cantor") is a Jewish musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the synagogue in songful prayer.

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Jew - Prayer

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There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources. The Jewish prayer services have their own entry; the prayers in these services are collected in a prayerbook known as the siddur.

Related Topics:
Jewish prayer services - Siddur

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The person leading the congregation in public prayers is called the shaliach tzibbur (Hebrew for "emissary of the congregation"). Traditional Jewish law restricts the shaliach tzibbur to be males over the age of 13; the non-Orthodox Jewish movements allow women over the age of 12 to have this role as well.

Related Topics:
Prayer - Hebrew - Jewish law

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In theory, any lay person can be a shaliach tzibuur; most synagogue attending Jews serve in this role at least once in their life. In practice, those with the best voice and the most knowledge of the prayers serve much more often.

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