It's Happening at HERJC! - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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Rabbi
ANDREW WARMFLASH
Ext. 214
rabbiw@herjc.org
Rabbi Emeritus
DR. STANLEY PLATEK
Hazzan
DAVID SISLEN
Ext. 215
cantorsislen@herjc.org
Ritual Director
NACHUM PLOTKIN
Ext. 222
nachum@herjc.org
Religious School Director
DAVID WOOLFE
599-0424 or Ext. 219
rsdir@herjc.org
Nursery School Director
CHERYL KARP
599-1169 or Ext. 237
nurserydir@herjc.org
Youth Director
TODD HAUSMAN
599-1148 or Ext. 223
youthdir@herjc.org
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notes from the hazzan
DAVID B. SISLEN
More so than at any time of year, the High Holidays are a time when
the nusach, the system of melodies which is used in our tradition to
chant specific pieces of the liturgy, truly defines the texts of the service,
lifting them off the page in a way that gives the words added
meaning and depth. The changes are first evident on Selichot night,
when many of the unique sounds of the service are reintroduced,
only to be echoed throughout the entire Yamim Noraim period. It
makes perfect sense that the music of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur services is unique to these holidays; since the liturgy itself is
different in both text and quality, it is fitting that the melodies should be, as well. In
some cases, such as the pleading Kaddish of the Neila service, we use melodies that are
only heard once a year, befitting the singularity of these texts in our annual cycle. But
in many cases, the subtleties of the complex musical structure of the services rushes by,
being felt by the congregation in terms of changes of mood or style, but not lasting long
enough for a thorough analysis. As we head into Yamim Noraim 5772, I thought I
would take a few moments to give a taste of what’s going on behind the scenes of our
rich High Holiday liturgy.
THE MA’ARIV (EVENING) SERVICE — Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur eves are the
only time in our tradition that the Ma’ariv service is chanted in a Major key (in our
familiar Lithuanian tradition). The familiar refrains of these services, introduced by the
“Ay ay ay….” melody before Barchu sets a grand, celebratory, and one-of-a-kind tone
for the entire Holiday period.
MALCHUYOT, ZICHRONOT, AND SHOFAROT — The three sections of the Rosh
Hashanah Musaf service deal with the themes of God’s Sovereignty, Memory, and the
Shofar, respectively. The way each is introduced is unique to the themes of the section.
Malchuyot (Sovereignty) is introduced with the Great Aleinu, a majestic melody which
is shared with the beginning section of the Amida itself. After setting this mood for the
Malchuyot verses, the Zichronot (Memory) section opens in a more introspective
Minor, reflecting the warmth of memory, and the prayerful hope that we will be remembered
for Good. Finally, Shofarot begins back in Major, and in most settings of the opening
paragraph, it is not unusual to hear, appropriately, the sound of the Shofar being
echoed subtly in the music.
KOL NIDRE — The keynote text which introduces the Yom Kippur evening service has
become an annual focal point for Yamim Noraim services, in a way which belies its
actual role in the service, which is to nullify vows made carelessly or under duress
which would be otherwise unbreakable. Its role in this most dramatic service has made
it synonymous with the official start of the atonement process. The familiar melody that
we use, while not universal (a quick web search can give you a taste of how Kol Nidre
sounds in other traditions), reflects the entire process of Teshuvah, repentance. It
begins in the Ahavah Rabah mode, a mode that is used to set a mood of pleading,
Hazzan continued on page 6
page 2 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
www.herjc.org
HAKOL