Chazzan Of Yamim Nora'im

Halacha Moment
Sep 14, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Sep 12, 2023

The Daily Halacha Moment - Chazzan On Yamim Nora'im 🍏 📙

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

Who Should Be Appointed Chazzan for the Yamim Nora’im?

Answer:

The Shulchan Aruch states that a chazzan must be a person who is upright, is empty of sins, does not currently have a bad name and did not have one when he was younger, is humble, is accepted by the people, forgives easily, has a nice voice, is well versed in Tanach, and can pronounce all of the words properly. [1] Similarly, he should also be a talmid chacham, married, and at least thirty years old. [See Footnote 2 regarding one who is younger than 30]

If the chazzan in the synagogue is a person who does not abide by Halachah, such as one who shaves his beard with a razor, it is better for one to pray at home than to pray with such a minyan. [3]

Adapted From R' Yonatan Nacsons "Laws Of The Holidays"

Sources:

[1]. Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 53:4. Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Nora’im, p. 34; Yalkut Yosef, Yamim Nora’im, pages 99–106; Yabia Omer 6:11. See also Ohr LeTzion, vol. 4, 1:7.

[2]. See Mishnah Berurah §13. See also Yechaveh Daat 1:52; Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Nora’im, p. 34; and Yalkut Yosef, Yamim Nora’im, pages 106–107, which add that if there is a married chazzan who is over Thirty years old and a single chazzan who is a ben Torah but under thirty years old, the ben Torah is the more ideal choice. See also Orchot Maran, vol. 1, p. 187.

[3]. Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Nora’im, p. 36. However, if he does teshuvah, then one may certainly pray with that minyan. See also Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Nora’im, p. 38, which adds that one who sends his children to non-Jewish schools (see Yechaveh Daat 4:46) or goes to non-Jewish courthouses instead of bet din may also not be a chazzan. See also Yalkut Yosef, Yamim Nora’im, pages 108–110.

📲 The Daily Halacha Moment is written exclusively for this broadcast so when forwarding please include the link! 😊

Netanel Aminov

Founder Of The Halacha Moment

🌟 Today's Halacha Moment is dedicated:

🕯 Leiluy Nishmat:

Mishael Ben Frecha

Efrat Bat Aushra

🤒 Refuah Shelema:

Chana Bat Sima Feiga

💯 Hatzlacha:

Aminov Family

Sion Ben Elie