Friedman vs. Chazzanut

[Sheldon Levin <slevin...>]

This has been fascinating reading the opinions of the best kind of music
for a service. My basic point which I'll make now so you don't have to
continue reading is that THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO WORSHIP.
Baskin-Robbins makes 31 flavors because not everyone likes chocolate.

I am a Conservative Cantor who loves contemporary American Jewish music.
I also like Chazzanut, choral music, wonderful davenning, great
congregational singing and many other types of music.

This summer I went to Hechal Shlomo in Jerusalem and though Herstig and
the 25 voice male chorus were fantastic, the service did not work for me
because many people around me were talking and not participating. The
fulfilling. Does that mean that the 1,000 plus people hearing the choir
and great cantor had a more or less religious experience than 25 people
in a small shul? I don't think so. Larger numbers does not mean something
is better.

My own congregation has a variety of prayer alternatives. On Friday night
we lead a chavurah style service (no English, lots of singing, shared
leadership, etc.). Its a great service for the 40 or so who pack our
chapel every Friday at sunset. No sermons, no onegs, no gimmicks, no
instruments but a very uplifting religious opportunity with lots of
participation. There might be a Debbie Friedman or Jeff klepper tune,
there might be Carlebach niggunim or Chassidic oldies, there might be new
chavurah settings, but lots of right nusach and knowledgeable leadership.

Shabbat morning there is a traditional minyan, a
reconstructionist/chavurah minyan and the main sanctuary which is liberal
Conservative with lots of Congregational singing. All three services are
very well attended and legitimate prayer experiences. Each style is
different and though most people find one service that works best for
them it doesn't mean that one of the other services is wrong. However the
people who like the tambourines and creativity of the recon led service
generally don't like the straight davening of the traditional group and
vice versa. I believe there is room for both.

On Yomim Noraim the main Sanctuary uses a professional choir and organ to
augment the worship experience. The other services meet in smaller rooms
with many worshippers. Some of them think the organ and choir are
abhorrant to "their" Judaism but the 800-1000 who come to the main room
like it and find it sometimes very moving.

Is there room in American Judaism for new melodies? I certainly hope so!
Times and tastes do change. For a short time in the late 60's early 70's
some rock services were tried. This fad thankfully left us quickly. But I
performed those services and applaud their creativity. I've tried using
the Bloch Sacred Service in a worship setting. It doesn't work for most
people though (to me at least) it is a masterwork which I've done very
successfully in concert.

Each year at the national Jewish Choral Festival, I'v been responsible
for the daily egalitarian service. Once I asked the cantor who was
leading to include some congregational melodies (all in correct nusach)
which I had photo-copied (with permission) for the congregation. It
didn't work. The group was davening nicely and then at awkward moments
had to  pick up their music, stop "praying" and start "singing". I am not
saying that congregational singing can not work (in fact I've written
articles on getting congregations to sing) but it does not work in every
setting.

For some a great choir can heighten their worship experience others may
find it intrusive. Some may find new American melodies exciting and
creative others find comfort in the tunes they have used all of their
lives. Some one might like a guitar, someone else an organ and a third
might think any instrument inappropriate.

I applaud everyone who has been posting comments on this subject. It is
important that we think about where we are going with our synagogue
music. I do hope that we can learn some tolerance to accept more than
one right way of doing things. Hatzlacha to all!

Cantor Sheldon M. Levin
slevin (at) mciunix(dot)mciu(dot)k12(dot)pa(dot)us