The future of Synagogue music

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 3:28PM

Re: The future of Synagogue music

Connecting the Shaliach with the Tzibbur

As a travelling Chazzan, I have performed in many synagogues up and down the UK and beyond, such as Belgium (my place of birth), Eretz Yisro-el, Canada, The Netherlands, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. 

Although I grew up on the old-world (read: Polish / Galician), my reprtoire includes Carlebach as well as United Synagogue Nusach, which I use when I am called upon to function as Chazzan in US, Federation and independent Anglo Shuls.

P.O.A.:

• With the recent arrival of the New Singer's Siddur (See:United Synagogue Member Portal (theus.org.uk)), perhaps this is an opportunity to dust off the many customs, practices and quirks that were part of Shul life throughout the network of United Synagogue Shuls and beyond.
• It would only be helpful to rejuvenate the curriculum that was used at LSJS / Jews’ College, which has presumably been in archive for some years now.  This could form the basis for training material and hopefully the new cohort of Chazzanim will read off the same hymn sheet.
• There should be liaison between the main synagogal bodies, who could contribute immensely to the speedy turnaround of the Chazzanut profession – be it financially, organisation-wise and in therms of free press coverage – whether by means of web-based, social media, in-Shul, road-shows and the like.
• Like the story of Cantor Pinchas Faigenblum, there are surely many more treasures lurking in lofts, basements and garages all over the place.  It would be nice (can’t argue with that, could you?) if a team could set out to retrieve these and save them for posterity.
• Set up weekly / monthly / quarterly in-person meetings to rehearse, study and listen about the topic, which are not necessarily a replacement of the Zoom sessions only reinforce them!
• Set up a rota in every Shul for lay members to ‘play Chazzan’, which will have many benefits:
• Their confidence in doing the Davening will improve (don’t confuse with speed-praying…)
• Once they are in front of the Amud, they will appreciate the work of the Chazzan
• The talk of the day will revolve around Davening, Nusach, songs etc., minimising the Schmoose during services
• Appreciation of prayers will increase; their new-found skills will prod them on to want more
• There are many songs, pieces of Nucach and the like that are in danger of becoming extinct, which were composed, used and cherished by Chazzanim who sadly lost their lives (and that of their families, admirers and audiences) in the Holocaust.  See this link for an example of just one victim: https://twitter.com/holocaust_music/status/1675822997494439939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

• Is there a nusach for Tefillat HaDerech prayer already? We could always improvise and make a Nusach for Tefilas haDerech in English, translated (AND trasliterated) from the original Hebrew.

• Ask communal and synagogal Rabbis to give a nod to this ECA’s project

  Set aside resources (read: funding), equipment& space for recording, playing, editing the material

  Send out a call for volunteers to play “Shul Mystery Shopper”

  Remind all social masters at every Shul, that if they are planning a Whiskey Tasting sessions, there should be a Song Tasting session too!

  Ask other organisations with similar goals, which Online Collaborative Project Management service they use and subscribe to it; most of these service providers offer free or highly discounted pricing for charities and voluntary organisations

  Offer summer Internship for colleague leavers to do research, CRM and the other items listed in the project outline

  Involve junior and grammar schools and sixth form colleges to feed into this project, by contributing material, resources and manpower

  Set up Social media accounts to attract the youth and the millenials

  If Chazzanut is not going to be promoted, you’ll need to change the name of the organisation to European Niggun Association, European Nusach Association or European Prayer Association

  Take the cue from similar organisations across the Jewish world and learn from them so we achieve best practice!

• With the recent introduction of the new edition of the New Singer's Siddur (already touched upon this in Par. 1. Of my forst instalment), perhaps there should be a programme that leads Shul goers on a journey through the new Sidur, with the hope to finish it in one year.  A “Siyum” celebration could even be instituted to highlight the culmination of a full year of study and awards could be extended to the most innovative teachers of said prayer book.  This will improve the quality of service, as people will appreciate the words they are reading, hearing or saying from the Siddur, besides other knock-on effects that will become apparent in due course.

• Perhaps there could be a memorial lecture to highlight the irch contribution to British Jewry by the late Rev. Leo Bryl O.B.M..

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Hope this helps and wishing you success,

Menasche Scharf (Travelling Rabbi / Roving Chazzan)