In Search of Leaders

The less keen among you will read this article and wonder why I'm making such a big deal out of nothing. I hope to forestall this narrow criticism by discouraging it at the outset.

I'm concerned about how hard it is to find anyone willing, even in the direst of circumstances, to be a shliach tzibbur. This collective apathy is not confined to Yeshiva University; it is a problem throughout world Jewry. We've all been to minyans that have started five or more minutes late because no one was interested in leading.

Why is it that no one wants to go up there? Is it modesty? I have never experienced such a widespread manifestation of modesty outside of shul, so I find it hard to believe that this is the impediment. Could it be fear, or shyness? Judging by the number of backseat chazans during hallel and other parts of davening, there seems to be no shortage of people with adequate voices and ability. And everyone is ambitious enough to complain about the speed of the davening one way or the other.

As a gabbai at one of the minyans at YU, reactions to my offers (I refuse to think of them as requests) for people to lead have been met with emphatic shakes of the head, shocked laughter, and dismissive waves of the hand. I don't know how many people the medical staff at YU treats for sore throats, but they should set up a booth in the Morg basement. I'm still waiting for someone to turn me down because of a splinter or an ingrown toenail. Some people are afraid of standing out in public, some people stutter, and others can't read fluently. These are all valid reasons to be reluctant to daven for the amud, but such afflictions are far from universal.

The real cause of the situation is obvious: people simply don't want to be bothered. Leading a congregation for even part of a tefilla - usually we have to divide up the responsibilities among several people - is considered an insufferable burden, a terrible annoyance to be refused unless there's absolutely "no one else". I've never attended a non-Jewish prayer service, but I wonder if a similar predicament exists there as well. I imagine that, on the contrary, people consider it an honor to actively participate in their version of services.

It wasn't always this way. I know this, since there's a halacha that one should turn down an offer to lead the tefilla unless he is asked repeatedly. If there is one halacha with which the entire nation is unfailingly machmir, this is it. Eating before Yom Kippur is a distant second. It seems, then, that Judaism also considers it an honor to be a shliach tzibur. It's Jews who don't. Even the few gallant people who are willing to do the job, do it grudgingly. Under the circumstances, I believe that it is unnecessary, even improper, to refuse a gabbai's offer to lead for reasons of modesty.

One day last year I was present at a minyan for shacharit that I normally did not attend. After pesukei dezimra the chazan decided he'd had enough and walked away (I think he wanted to force someone else to contribute). None of the dozen or so mannequins in the room took his place. One minute went by, and another. Everyone just sat there, looking around out of the corners of their eyes, seemingly oblivious to the fact that someone needed to get up there and daven. After another couple of awkward minutes I witnessed something absolutely shocking. One guy suddenly continued on by himself. Another scooped up his tefillin bag and left the room, heading across the street to a minyan that started fifteen minutes after this one. True story! I watched in amazement as moments later the minyan fell apart, the rest of the "participants" either leaving or finishing on their own. They had all chosen to let their minyan disband rather than assume the slightest responsibility for its continuation.

I see I have exposed myself to charges of hypocrisy. Why didn't I go up there and save the day? I did consider it at the time, but decided to let them take care of their own minyan. Whether you regard davening for the amud an honor, or, more likely, a chore, everyone should feel some sense of responsibility to make their minyan work. I was waiting for someone, anyone, to finally take the initiative and show some spirit. I have not returned to that minyan.

Jews should know better, especially the educated ones. You don't have to jump out of your shoes with enthusiasm for the davening, but you should accept offers to lead as eagerly as you accept aliyot. If you think about it, the former is clearly a superior honor. Just a little more work. But that's the idea.