Who's Who in the Synagogue?
|
|
"Rabbi" means
"teacher" and, through preaching from the pulpit, teaching classes,
and individual counseling, teaching is the primary duty of a rabbi.
In addition, many rabbis serve as administrators of their synagogues,
represent the congregation to the community, officiate at life-cycle
events, and serve as Jewish legal decisors (that is, they render
decisions concerning Jewish legal matters that come before them).
Each of the Jewish movements in America sponsors a seminary for the
training of rabbis, which is a lengthy program.
Traditionally, a
Jewish prayer service is chanted. The leader is called the
shaliach
tzibbur (the representative of the
community) who recites the prayers on behalf of the people. Some
prayers are said by everyone, and some are recited aloud by the
shaliach tzibbur, to which the congregation responds "Amen." The
chazzan (cantor) is
specially trained in the art of Jewish music and liturgy for this
role. In many congregations, the cantor is professionally trained and
studies a broad pallet of Jewish subjects in addition to those
mentioned above, and does a good deal of teaching, counseling, and
life-cycle officiation in addition to leading the community in
prayer.
Often, a congregation hires a Jewish educator to run its religious school program, and perhaps its adult education program as well. Often, a rabbi or cantor combines this role with other duties.
The shammas is the one who takes care of the physical plant of the synagogue. Many congregations hire custodians these days, because the needs of the community warrant it. In small congregations, a member may volunteer to take on these responsibilities. The shammas is also known by the terms beadle or sexton.
If you attend services on a day when the Torah is read publicly, you may well see two people standing on either side of the reading table while the Torah is read, who assist the reader and make sure that the Torah Service runs smoothly. These people are the gabbaim. It is their job to call people to the Torah for their aliyot, check that the reader makes no mistakes while reading the Torah, and provide correction if a mistake is made, recites the Mi Sheberach for those who have had an aliyah, and see to the mechanics of covering and uncovering the Torah scroll at the appropriate times. Usually, the gabbaim are congregants who possess the skills to fulfill these tasks.
After the Torah has been read, the congregation will be asked to stand and someone will lift the scroll above his/her head. This person will then turn around so that the side of the scroll with the writing faces the congregation, and turn as necessary to enable everyone assembled to view the scroll, since not everyone received the honor of an aliyah, thereby enabling them to peer into the scroll that morning. It is traditional to show a minimum of three columns of writing, including the portion read that morning. The honor of lifting the Torah is called hagbahah.
After the congregation has had an opportunity to see the scroll, the hagbah sits in a chair on the bima and the another person, who is being honored with gelilah, the rolling and dressing of the scroll, comes forward. The person honored with gelilah ties the sash around the scroll, places the mantle over the scroll, and puts on the breastplate and crown. (For a description of these items, click here.)
