28 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019 THEJEWISHNEWS.COM

Local chazzanim prepare for the Days of Awe.

LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rosh Hashanah

O

n Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur, at the most solemn —
and best attended — worship
services in the Jewish year, someone stands
up there, chanting the words. Have you
ever wondered what that person hopes to
accomplish? Or how that person got there?
Or how it feels?
The prayer leaders themselves give differ-
ent answers. They do not even agree about
what to call their role: chazzan (cantor),
or shaliah tsibbur (messenger of the con-
gregation). Embracing the title and role of
chazzan or cantor correlates with putting
emphasis on the beauty of the music.
David Propis, chazzan at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
in Southfield, describes the
work he puts into preparing.
“It sounds effortless when we
lead services … preparing,
studying, thinking about the
presentation, writing music,
creating musical arrangements
for myself, my choir, my accompanist — it
takes a tremendous amount of effort and
time,” he said.
But Propis also describes himself as shali-
ah tsibbur, saying simply “I represent the
people.” That title stresses enabling other
worshippers.
Rabbi Aura Ahuvia of Congregation
Shir Tikvah in Troy, says,
“People call me rabbi, but the
role that I inhabit is shaliah
tsibbur. Each time I lead a ser-
vice, I have a kavvanah (focus-
ing intention): ‘
God, may I
please get out of my own way;
by what I do as shaliah tsibbur,
may the tsibbur open their mouths and
hearts in prayer.’
”

Avy Schreiber, one of sev-
eral prayer leaders at Young
Israel of Oak Park, makes a
similar observation: “Being a
good chazzan isn’
t about just
impressing people with vocal
prowess or power; it is about
spiritually elevating people
by drawing them in to your
intent, your focus, your understanding of
the meaning, import and gravity of the text
you are singing.”
Debby Graudenz, who’
s lost quite a bit
of range in her voice because of cancer
treatments, is still asked to
lead prayers at Congregation
Netivot Shalom in Berkeley,
Calif. Graudenz trusts that she
“conveys kavanah (intention),
and invites listeners into wher-
ever we are in this journey of
Yamim Nora’
im (Days of Awe).
Maybe they want to feel that
they are standing before God. Maybe they
want to feel connected with traditions that
they love. I want the focus to help them get
to that space.”
The role of prayer leader requires knowl-
edge and skill. Some were born into the
role; some acquired it as adults; some had
it thrust upon them. Propis says he “is a
seventh-generation chazzan.” He learned
from his father. “It is in my blood.”
Graudenz also learned from her father,
in a way. “I discovered cassette tapes of the
service that my father had used when he
was rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in
Modesto, Calif. As the congregation grew,
he would train the more promising b’
nai
mitzvah to take over different pieces. He
made these tapes for a favorite student.”
She adds, “When I am davening on Yom

Kippur, I feel my father next to me.”
Joe Lewis learned from the late Cantor
Louis Klein of Congregation B’
nai
Moshe (then in Oak Park, now in West
Bloomfield). Lewis used to lead services at
the Jewish Community Center and later at
Congregation Or Chadash,
both in Oak Park.
“When I studied with
Chazzan Klein, I thought he
was doing me a favor, but I
now realize that each of us
benefitted,” Lewis says. “He
passed his tradition on to me.
Without his students, his vast knowledge
of cantorial practice, traditions that he
curated into his own style, would have
died with his own premature passing.”
Schreiber learned the service “from
birth all the way through high school” as a
congregant at Young Israel of Greenfield.
There, “the great Manny Mittelman of
blessed memory” was “the main chazzan
over the High Holidays; his beautiful mel-
odies, his tremendous vocal power, and his
raw emotional expression were incredibly
compelling and inspiring to all of his con-
gregants.” Schreiber strives to bring that
same spirit to the services he leads.
The task humbles prayer leaders. “I
never feel up to the task,” Lewis says. “I
feel the congregation knows more than
I do, but for some reason they let me go
on.”
Graudenz agrees. “I do not feel that I
am enough to lead this holy congregation;
but that is how we do it.”
Propis says he prays for guidance. “I am
a flawed human being,” he says, “but the
congregation has picked me to serve in this
role, to represent us. God, please help
me.”

Rabbi Aura
Ahuvia


Avy
Schreiber

Chazzan
David Propis

Joe Lewis

Debby
Graudenz

Varied Routes
to Leading Prayers

ISTOCK