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

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