[HANASHIR:12153] Re: Cantor Rishon??

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

Cantor Rishon is probably just an attempt to distinguish the "Hazzan" from 
the "Hazzan Sheni," a recognized position in some synagogues with more than 
one professional Hazzan (or a congregant who serves as Shliach Tsibbur in the 
Hazzan's absence).  And, since a lot of people just have more connection to 
the title 'Cantor' than 'Hazzan,' they made up a word.  A time-honored 
tradition (especially in German-speaking countries).

According to halacha, a Cantor/Hazzan (Sheliah Tsibbur) is elected by a 
congregation.  The ACC refers to its members as 'Cantor,' and the CA refers 
to its members as 'Hazzan' (and, both organizations admit members without 
graduating from its school after meeting various requirements).  But, these 
institutions and their Cantorial Schools themselves are only some 50 years 
old, and these titles and traditions go back much farther.  On a daily basis, 
I am most often called Cantor, less often Hazzan, and sometimes even 'Rabbi' 
(though I am not yet a member of either organization).

I'm not as familiar with the halacha regarding Rabbis, but I believe it is 
similar.  Anyone can be elected and serve as 'Rabbi' of a congregation.  The 
Smicha is a document where three Rabbis attest to the qualifications of the 
holder.  A Smicha is only as 'good' as the reputations of the Rabbis who 
signed it.  Rabbinic graduates from HUC or JTS receive Smicha from three 
Rabbis at the institution (in addition to any academic degrees they may earn).

I don't know of any halacha which gives Graduate Schools themselves the right 
to confer these titles, or lists which ones are 'recognized.'  Although they 
may belong to a Movement which has certain guidelines, each congregation 
ultimately decides for itself what individuals it will employ and which 
institutions and qualifications it will recognize.

For more details, Walter Orenstein's "The Cantor's Manual of Jewish Law" 
(Aronson) pulls all of the relevant halacha together in one convenient volume 
in Hebrew and English.

Michael




-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Monday, 09-Sep-02 06:10 AM
> 
> From: Cantor Brad Hyman        \ Internet:    (cantorb (at) pacbell(dot)net)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:12143] Cantor Rishon??
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Wow! This is a term I have never had the displeasure of hearing before.
> Cantor Rishon? Let's break it down, shall we?
> -"Cantor" is of course a borrowed word, that is to say it is not Hebrew and
> not entirely English, and was not heard of until Sulzer. It has a Hebrew
> equivalent, which is known more exclusively to the Jews, and when used among
> them, it usually tells which seminary they attended. (Explanation: A long
> standing feud between JTS and HUC deals with the fact that JTS calls its
> graduates "Chazzan" and refers to soloists in the Conservative movement as
> "Cantor." Of course, this enrages the HUC graduates who call them selves
> "Cantor," have both denotations as Cantor and "Chazzan" on their graduation
> certificates, and who refer to their Reform movements' soloists as
> "Cantorial Soloist" so as not to forget that they had some sort of formal
> training).
> -"Rishon" is pure Hebrew, implying (as others have already stated) "first,"
> or "head." In the spirit of pure American "let's do whatever the heck we
> want," someone has mashed these two unsuspecting words together to form a
> lousy s'michut expression. Not only does it do nothing for the title it is
> trying so hard to covet, it creates an air of dominance among the co-clergy.
> If I have offended anyone who carries this title, please forgive me if you
> can (being so close to Yom Kippur and all).  But please think about what
> makes for our selves a "good name," and what is knowingly or unknowingly
> fraudulent. Let's face it... no one would get on a plane with anyone who
> "dabbles in flying" at the controls. We all expect to see the word "Pilot"
> by their job description. In the same fashion, no one would call himself or
> herself  "Rabbi" unless they have obtained s'micha...or would they? Why do
> we insist on letting people call themselves "Cantor" when they have not been
> through some kind of recognized study program? By employing or supporting
> such behavior, we do nothing but water down the title we are trying so hard
> to make significant through our good works.  When we are praying or leading
> others in prayer this holiday season, please try and remember that we need
> to be honest with our selves and our congregations if we are to expect the
> same in return. This is not the warm fuzzy that perhaps most expect to hear
> right now, but rather the cleansing medicine that tastes bad and still has
> the power to heal in some way.
> Shanah Tova Um'tukah,
> 
> >From The Home Office Of:
> Cantor Brad Hyman
> 215 S. Madison Avenue #207
> Pasadena, CA 91101
> (626) 396-9612
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

-------- REPLY, End of original message --------

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