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A Shabbat-observing cantor? (Illustration)
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Rabbi Yosef: Secular cannot be cantor

In honor of High Holidays, Shas journal publishes collection of spiritual leader's halachic rulings regarding prayers

A secular person must not be allowed to serve as a cantor at a synagogue, Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has ruled. If the synagogue manager erroneously allows it, worshippers had better go back home and pray alone – rather than take part in such a quorum.

 

In honor of the High Holidays, Shas journal Yom LeYom published a collection of relevant halachic rulings made by the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic leader.

 

"A person who commits an offense, such as shaving his beard with a knife, must not be appointed as a cantor. And even leading a prayer by chance, for example on the anniversary of his parents' death – is forbidden," the rabbi was quoted as saying.

 

"Moreover if he desecrates Shabbat, even if not defiantly, he is disqualified from leading a prayer. And if the synagogue managers are not properly religious and appoint such a person as a cantor, each of the congregation members had better pray at home on their own rather than pray at the synagogue with such a criminal cantor."

 

Rabbi Yosef called on synagogues to hire regular paid cantors in a bid to prevent such a mishap.

 

"It is more fitting to take a paid cantor than a voluntary cantor, because in a place where the cantor is regular and receives a salary, he makes certain to arrive for prayers on time and is very cautious in leading the prayer… If it were free, anyone would jump on the opportunity."

 

The collection also contained a ruling, which the rabbi voiced in one of his weekly sermons last month, that a person who educates his children in non-religious institutions is disqualified from serving as cantor, as are judges in civilian courts and those who appear before them.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.04.12, 13:22
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