As we enter the Yamim Noraim season in earnest, I have been spending time reviewing the text and the tunes for the services I will, with God’s help, have the privilege of leading once again. Every Chazzan’s nussach (musical modes) and repertoire is influenced by those he heard over the years, so this week’s Hakarat HaTov corner acknowledges the Chazzanim I was privileged to officiate with, or learn from in various capacities over the years.
Alan Levy, the baal tefilla for many decades at Congregation Beth Hakneses HaChodosh in Rochester, New York. Anyone who grew up in our shul in Rochester in the late 80’s and the 90’s recalls with fondness and a wistful smile the old Chassidic tune he used for “Ein Kitzvah” that sounded uncannily like “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad.” (In later years, he switched to the more popular tune from the Modzitz Chassidus, the one we use at Shaare Tefilla.) The nussach I use for the Hineni prayer is a close paraphrase of his.
Rav Dr. Raphael Binyamin Posen zt”l (1942-2016) and, lehavdil bein chaim lechaim, Dayan Binyamin Be’eri- Rav Posen, also known in the Yeshiva as Chazzan Posen, was a graduate of Yeshivat Kerem BeYavneh in its early years, a revered educator and the acknowledged world expert in the translation and commentary of Onkelos. Dayan Be’eri is the former Av Beit Din of Ashkelon, now a member of the Beit Din Hagadol, the senior Rabbinical court in Israel. For years, he taught at Yeshivat Kerem BeYavneh, on whose campus he still lives.
During my time in the Yeshiva, Dayan Be’eri and Chazzan Posen and Dayan were the chazzanim for Shacharit and mussaf respectively; since Rav Posen’s passing, Dayan Be’eri leads mussaf. Neither Chazzan Posen nor Dayan Be’eri had or have classically beautiful voices, but their davening remains unforgettable- a mix of tunes from the Bnei Akiva, Chassidic, Yeshivish and German communities conveyed with intense feeling. Davening started at the Yeshiva at 7 AM on Rosh Hashanah and ended at 2:30, and I always felt like I could go on. For a playlist of the Yamim Noraim tunes at Kerem BeYavneh, led by Chazzan Posen, click here.
Simcha Leiner- the well-known singer is also an outstanding Chazzan, a consummate baal nussach and a good friend. I had the honor of having him as my baal mussaf for several years at the Irving Place Minyan.
Cantor Sherwood Goffin z”l and lehavdil bein chaim lechaim, Cantors Asher Hainovitz and Naftali Herstik- The late Cantor of the Lincoln Square Synagogue, the Chazzan of the Yeshurun Central Synagogue and the Cantor Emeritus of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, respectively. Over the years, I was blessed to develop a connection with Cantor Goffin, who provided me with pointers on nussach, which supplemented the authoritative Nussach CD’s put out by Cantor Hainovitz that I learned from. I also benefitted from Cantor Herstik’s influence and artistry and use some of his ideas as well.
I want to thank everyone who attended our Soulful Selichot and especially those who sang along and made it so special. I can’t wait for a meaningful and tuneful Yamim Noraim season together- let us sing our way into the book of life, and may our voices next year be unmasked!
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tovah, Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
