At TBZ, the rabbi and the chazan are one. Why? In Reb Moshe’s case, it’s not just that he has been blessed with a powerful, soulful voice; it’s his conscious decision to join two elements of the service – rabbi and chazan – that have been split in many American congregations, diluting (in his view) the forcefulness and spiritual efficacy of each. When it is the rabbi who sings and chants, the liturgy becomes personal and provides an avenue for expression that is often missing from the performance mode of the traditional cantorate.
Reb Moshe’s approach to prayer encourages you to become more active and directly involved in prayer. As the rabbi sings, you sing. Together, our prayers rise.
