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.

Origin of the term and the role

The term hazzan may have been borrowed from the Assyrian word "Hazanu." In the Talmud the term is used to denote the "overseer": (1) of a city; (2) of a court of justice; (3) of the Temple; (4) of the synagogue. It also comes from the word Hazzon, denoting a "visionary." The early hazzanim (the plural of hazzan) were most likely prophets. In regard to a hazzans duties in the synagogue, the Talmud notes that 2,000 years ago, he brought out the rolls of the Torah, opened them at the appointed readings for the week, and put them away again, with trumpet-blasts he announced the beginnings of Sabbaths and holy days from the roof of the synagogue, he attended to the lamps of the synagogue, he accompanied the pilgrims that brought the firstlings to the sanctuary of Jerusalem. His place was in the middle of the synagogue, on the wooden bimah (raised platform), and sometimes would read aloud from the Torah. A passage in the Jerusalem Talmud (Ber. ix. 12d), implies the hazzan also led the prayers in the synagogue.

Related Topics:
Talmud - Synagogue - Torah - Sabbath

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During the early medieval era, the duties of reading from the Torah and of reciting the prayers were included, as a rule, among the functions of the hazzan. The blowing of the shofar was also one of his duties, as may be seen from a responsum of Rabbi Solomon ben Adret (No. 300). He acted sometimes as secretary to the congregation. He was assisted, especially on festival days, by a chorus (meshorerim, singers). This institution was afterward developed in Poland and Germany, where a singer stood on each side of the precentor and accompanied him, sometimes in high, sometimes in low, tones, at intervals singing independently. Today, the hazzan leads the prayer service and therefore must be fluent in all aspects of the liturgy. This includes knowledge of the meanings of the hebrew words that he is saying, the way each prayer is supposed to be chanted, using the correct musical modes, and laws and customs regarding the chanting of the liturgy. In the last 100 years, his duties sometimes have come to include teaching Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah classes, hebrew school teaching, adult education programs, leading or working with a choir, and concertizing.

Related Topics:
Medieval - Prayers - Shofar - Poland - Germany - Liturgy - Bar Mitzvah

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