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Chazarat Hashatz (/xəˈzɑːrɑːtˈhʃɑːts/; Hebrew: חזרת הש״ץ, ḥazarat ha-shaṣ [χaˈzaʁat haˈʃats]) (or Repetition of the Amidah) is a part of the Jewish Amidah prayer, in which the prayer leader (Shaliach Tzibbur) repeats the prayer aloud after all congregants have recited it silently. This repetition takes place in all prayers except for the Maariv prayer.
History
editThe Repetition of the Amidah was instituted by the Men of the Great Assembly so that even those who did not know the text of the Amidah prayer by heart could fulfill their obligation by listening to the Shaliach Tzibbur and responding "Amen."[1] This enactment was especially significant before the invention of the printing press, as most congregants did not have written siddurim (prayer books), and those who could not recite the prayer by heart were unable to pray independently.
Even after the invention of the printing press and the availability of prayer books in synagogues, the practice of repeating the Amidah continues in all Jewish communities for several reasons:
- Enactments by the Sages are not nullified even if their original reason no longer applies.[2]
- Important sections of the prayer, such as the Kedusha and Modim D'Rabbanan, are recited during the repetition but not in the individual silent prayer.[3]
- According to some opinions, the repetition of the Amidah allows an individual who made an error in their prayer to fulfill their obligation by listening to the Shaliach Tzibbur, particularly if they are unsure about their error.[4]
Order and laws of the repetition
editDuring the repetition of the Amidah, the Shaliach Tzibbur (prayer leader) repeats aloud the prayer that all congregants have previously recited silently, adding additional segments that, according to Jewish law, can only be recited if there is a quorum of at least ten men (a minyan) present in the synagogue.
Before the Shaliach Tzibbur recites the third blessing – Kedushat HaShem – the congregation recites a section called Kedusha. On a public fast, the Shaliach Tzibbur recites the blessing of Aneinu after the blessing of Redemption. When the Shaliach Tzibbur reaches the blessing of Thanksgiving, the congregation recites a corresponding prayer called Modim D'Rabbanan. Between the blessing of Thanksgiving and the blessing of Sim Shalom, the Kohanim ascend the platform to bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing.[5]
On special Shabbats and Jewish holidays, some communities add piyyutim (liturgical poems) into the repetition of the Amidah.
The repetition of the Amidah is recited during the Shacharit, Mincha, Mussaf, and Neilah services on Yom Kippur. There is no repetition during Maariv (the evening prayer) because, originally, this prayer was considered optional, and the repetition of the Amidah was only established for obligatory prayers. In the Maariv of Shabbat, a prayer called Me'ein Sheva is recited, which is a condensed version of the Seven Blessings recited on Shabbat.[6]
A minyan (quorum of ten) is required for the repetition of the Amidah, making it central to communal prayer, which is highly valued in Judaism. For this reason, an individual or even a small group of people praying alone do not repeat the prayer. If some individuals have already prayed and form a minyan with others who have not yet prayed, or if time is limited, a shortened service may be recited in which only the first three blessings and the Kedusha are recited aloud, with the remainder recited silently and without a preceding silent Amidah.
According to Jewish law, during the repetition of the Amidah, the congregation must remain silent and listen to the Shaliach Tzibbur (prayer leader) in order to answer "Amen" after each blessing, and should neither pray nor study Torah during this time.[7] Rabbeinu Asher wrote in his Responsa that if there are not nine people listening to the chazan in the synagogue, "his blessings are near to being in vain."
Some have the custom of standing during the repetition of the Amidah.[8]
The need for a silent Amidah
editIn the Mishnah in Rosh Hashanah,[9] the Sages state that a silent Amidah should be recited in addition to the repetition. In the Baraita,[10] the Sages explain that the repetition is intended for those who do not know how to pray on their own, but those who do know should pray silently. The Mishnah further presents the opinion of Rabban Gamliel the Elder, who disagreed, holding that it is sufficient to perform only the repetition, with everyone listening and fulfilling their obligation.
In the Talmud,[10] Rabbi Yochanan ruled in accordance with Rabban Gamliel's opinion specifically for the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayers, which include unique blessings that the congregation may not be familiar with.[11] The Rambam ruled according to Rabbi Yochanan that on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is permissible to rely on Rabban Gamliel's approach.[12]
Later in the Talmud (ibid.), the opinion of Rabbi Shimon Hasida is brought, asserting that according to Rabban Gamliel, only the "people of the fields" are exempted by the chazan's repetition. The Rif and the Rosh explained that the "people of the fields" are those who cannot attend the synagogue due to work obligations. According to them, these individuals fulfill their obligation even though they do not come to the synagogue at all. In contrast, the Beit Yosef, explaining the view of the Rambam, stated that these individuals, due to their work distractions, are unable to learn the prayers themselves. However, they still fulfill their obligation only when they come to the synagogue.[13]
According to the Rambam, Rabbi Shimon Hasida's words are not the final halacha, as his view applies only to regular weekdays, where Rabban Gamliel's ruling is not followed.[14] However, Sefer HaEitur ruled that the repetition is required even on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,[15] as he held that Rabbi Shimon Hasida's statement applies also to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.[16]
The Tur ruled not to rely on Rabban Gamliel's view even for the prayers of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, due to the concern that some might not listen attentively to the repetition and would not fulfill their obligation.[13] The same ruling appears in the Shulchan Aruch.[17] Thus, the prevailing practice today is to perform the chazan's repetition even on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. However, among some Yemenite Jews, in the Mussaf prayer of Rosh Hashanah, only one prayer is recited to this day.[18]
Shortened Chazarat Hashatz (Brief Repetition)
editAccording to the original enactment, the chazan (prayer leader) must repeat all the blessings of the prayer.[19] Rav Hai Gaon instructed that if there is not enough time before sunset to recite the entire Chazarat Hashatz for the Mincha prayer, the chazan should only repeat the first three blessings in order to recite the Kedusha,[20] a ruling supported by the Shulchan Aruch.[21] The Rema ruled that in such a case, everyone should pray together, with the chazan reciting aloud and the others praying quietly. The Radbaz[22] and the Beit Yosef[23] mentioned a Sephardic custom in which, during the Mincha prayer, the chazan recites only the first three and last three blessings aloud, while the rest of the prayer is said by everyone quietly. The scholars of Safed in the generation before the Beit Yosef prohibited this practice (if there was enough time) as they insisted on the full repetition of all blessings.[24] In some Litvak yeshivas, during weekday Mincha, the practice is that even when there is enough time, the chazan begins with the first three blessings, including the Kedusha, while everyone prays quietly along. Afterward, they all continue the prayer silently to the end.[25] This was also the practice in most North African communities for Shacharit and Mincha on weekdays, and for Mussaf and Mincha on Shabbat and holidays.
Today, some communities shorten Chazarat HaShatz in the Mincha prayer as described above. This custom is especially common in workplaces, particularly in winter, and among some Lithuanian yeshiva communities, to avoid Bitul Torah. In Ashkenazi Judaism, some communities maintain silence during the first three blessings while the chazan recites them, beginning their silent prayer from the start after the Kedusha. Others prefer to start with the chazan, as noted in the Shulchan Aruch and practiced among Sephardic Jews.
Cancellation of Chazarat Hashatz
editHundreds of years ago, the repetition of the prayer, both silently and aloud, led to boredom among the congregation, who by then knew the text of the prayer by heart. During the Chazarat HaShatz, people began chatting or engaging in other matters, resulting in desecration of God's name. Due to this, Rambam canceled the repetition as an emergency measure, instituting that the prayer should be recited only once, with the chazan (prayer leader) saying it aloud to fulfill the obligation for those who were not proficient, while those who knew it recited it silently along with him. Rambam also expressed concern about the perception of Jewish prayer among non-Jews:
"… and thus avoid the lengthy repetition, removing the desecration of God’s name spread among the non-Jews, as they think the Jews spit, cough, and converse during their prayers."[26]
This enactment was upheld in Egypt for several hundred years until the time of the Radbaz, who nullified it, ruling that two prayers should be recited in succession, in line with the Talmud.[27] Additionally, the Ari in Shaar HaKavanot advised against canceling the repetition, as, according to Kabbalah, its spiritual elevation surpasses that of the silent prayer.
In Yemenite Judaism, many communities once practiced Rambam's enactment, reciting only one prayer during the Mincha services (weekday and Shabbat) and the Mussaf of Shabbat.[28] The practice in Mussaf was explained by the fact that they would rise an hour or two before dawn to study, so the prayer extended for a long time, and the congregation was eager to conclude. Additionally, the custom of including the Onkelos translation in the Torah reading, which lengthened the synagogue service, led them to adopt this custom out of concern that there would not be nine congregants responding. Among the Darda'im faction, there is generally no silent and repeated prayer, except on Yom Kippur.
Similarly, among Sephardic communities in Western Europe, Chazarat HaShatz is practiced only during the Shacharit prayer, while it is omitted entirely in the Mussaf and Mincha prayers. Exceptions include the Mussaf prayer when reciting the seasonal prayers for rain and dew, and on the High Holy Days, as well as the Mincha prayers on fast days and on Yom Kippur.
In most Reform congregations, Chazarat HaShatz has been abolished, leaving only the silent prayer.
Further reading
editReferences
edit- ^ Tur, Orach Chayim 124
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 124:3
- ^ Examples include Kedusha, Modim D'Rabbanan, and the Priestly Blessing
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 124:10
- ^ In the Ashkenazi custom outside Israel, the Kohanim perform the Priestly Blessing only on holidays. However, if the Kohanim do not ascend to bless the congregation, the Shaliach Tzibbur adds "Our God and God of our ancestors, bless us with the triple blessing." See also the article on Priestly Blessing.
- ^ This prayer, though similar to the repetition of the Amidah in several ways, was not instituted for the benefit of those unable to recite the Amidah on their own. Instead, it was established to prolong the congregation's time in the synagogue, allowing those who take longer in prayer not to have to return home alone in the dark. Nevertheless, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 268:13) rules that one who hears this blessing from the Shaliach Tzibbur fulfills their obligation, though some later authorities question this.
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 124:4, 9 and Mishna Berura there, Siman Katan 17.
- ^ Rema, Orach Chaim, Siman 124:4.
- ^ Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 4:9.
- ^ a b Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 34b and 35a.
- ^ Additionally, a Baraita in the Talmud presents the opinion of the Tanna Rabbi Meir, which aligns with Rabban Gamliel's view. However, Rabbi Yochanan's need to issue a ruling specifically for these days implies that the Sages disagreed on this point as well.
- ^ Rambam, Hilchot Tefillah and Birkat Kohanim, 8:10.
- ^ a b Tur, Orach Chaim, 591 and Beit Yosef there.
- ^ However, in the prayers of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which include unique blessings, even city dwellers may not know the prayer text. Thus, according to Rabban Gamliel, everyone fulfills their obligation. See Tur, Orach Chaim, 591 and Beit Yosef there.
- ^ Sefer HaEitur, Volume 2, Laws of Shofar, folio 104.
- ^ This is explained by the Beit Yosef after raising the question of how Rabbi Shimon Hasida could rule against the words of Rabbi Yochanan mentioned above. Tur, Orach Chaim, 591 and Beit Yosef there. Additionally, Sefer HaEitur agreed with the Rif’s interpretation of Rabbi Shimon Hasida’s words, meaning that even on special days, the chazan fulfills the obligation only for those unable to attend the synagogue.
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 591:1.
- ^ The Baladi Yemenite prayer rite follows this practice for Mussaf on Shabbat, based on a later decree by the Rambam, while on Rosh Hashanah they continue to follow Talmudic law.
- ^ Tur and Beit Yosef, Orach Chaim 234.
- ^ Shibbolei HaLeket, Section 47.
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 232:1.
- ^ Radbaz, Volume 4, Section 5 - Radbaz advised against this practice.
- ^ Beit Yosef, Orach Chaim 234.
- ^ Beit Yosef, Orach Chaim 234:1.
- ^ Out of concern that people may converse during Chazarat HaShatz (Moadim U'Zmanim, Part 8, Section 94) or due to fear of bitul Torah (loss of Torah study time).
- ^ Responsa of the Rambam, edited by Yehoshua Blau, Section 258, Jerusalem, 2014.
- ^ Responsa Radbaz, Part 4, Section 94 (165).
- ^ Responsa Peulat Tzadik, Part 3, Section 137, Rabbi Yihya Saleh.
- ^ Yeshiva.org.il, Article ID: 2789, Eliezer Melamed, "Order of Chazarat HaShatz (Halachic article)"
- ^ Machon Meir
- ^ Eliezer Melamed, "Enactment of Chazarat HaShatz," P'ninei Halacha, https://ph.yhb.org.il/02-19-01/