Don't squash the off Key Rabbi

[Benjamin_Laden <Benjamin_Laden...>]

I understand why the off key rabbi would make the average cantor upset,
however, let's get back to why people go to shul. Is it to see a musical
performance or is it to pray. Is it the obligation of the cantor and rabbi
to join in spiritual workship? You said the rabbi tends to get louder as he
is moved....and you don't want him to do this because it is messing up your
performance,  and the congregation's enjoyment of your performance. But to
stifle the rabbi's expression of worship, especially at his moments of
rapture, denies him his own personal expression of his spirit.

I immediately thought of the very orthodox services I've attended where
there was nobody doing any performances. Rather it was everyone finding
their own speed, their own embellishments, with occasional loud 'off key'
vocalizations as a part of their spiritual expression.

I'm not a big prayer...but I always thought that most prayer comes from a
place where an individual's ego relents to a higher power. It seems to me
that for a Rabbi and Cantor, it can be difficult to get to that point
because the nature of performance and leadership requires an active
involvement of one's ego, not to mention that it often boost the ego rather
than quell it.

Benny