Shaliakh tzibur
Question
Rabbi Abadi: Would you agree with me that the shaliakh Tzivur has an enormous reponsibility in representing the community especially on shabbat and major holidays and should therefore refrain from clapping, dancing and making ridiculuous movements that might make people unconfortable? I am saying this because, when I went to my local orthodox shul for Shabbat Rosh Hashana I found that the rabbi leading the service was doing this and had a total disregard for the what reaction people would have. I do not want to enter into the halachic issue of whether it is allowed or not to do this (even though the mishnah and the major codes clearly prohibit it). But I just want to emphasize that orthodoxy is not a guarantee of compliance with halacha but it is just a political movement. In the conservative synagogue I used to attend a few years ago they didn't do this staff. Although they drove on shabbat and were therefore not shomrei shabbat, they at least knew how to conduct themselves during services, something that the yeshiva still needs to learn. What is even more disturbing is that you don't hear people complaining about this staff, either because they want to fit in, or because they are being misled. When the shaliakh tzibur begins hitting the table, he is automatically giving permission to everyone to start doing whatever they want. I would like to know your opinion on this.
Answer
Answered by Aaron Abadi1000 percent on your side. I remember my father, as spiritual leader and halachic authority in Lakewood, NJ, when I was a little boy. He used to go over quietly to people doing these type things and he would tap their shoulder or something until they stopped. He eventually began speaking about it in advance before the services. The motivation to this type behavior is that all the people around should know how holy I am. A real holy person stands still, prays with respect, and finishes at a reasonable pace. Praying with wild sounds, motions, and contortions is putting on a show. Look how great I am! God must be thrilled that I am on his side. The Chovot Halvavot refers to this type of behavior as "shituf." This means worshiping more than one God. He is also worshiping the people around him. The entire Chapter of "Yichud HaMaaseh" is dedicated to this concept. A real pious and rightous person does his extra curricular stuff in private whenever possible. It's for God, why make a scene. On the other hand, I realize that you were pointing out the Conservative Synagogue to make a point. Just don't underestimate the magnitude of the destruction caused by the Conservative movement. I certainly agree to you that Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed are just political labels. We should all be just "observant." That means follow the Torah, plain and simple. People often grow out of the childish noisemaking in the Synagogue, but making the desecration of Shabbat acceptable is a real dangerous step. If this website existed prior to the new movements, they probably would not have gotten off the ground. It is the multiple excess restriction that makes the people want to run as far away as they can, coupled with the almost everpresent hypocricies. In the most advanced and religious schools they never teach the basics. They never prepare us for life. We were put here by God to choose right from wrong. It is not an easy feat, and it is a lifetime's work. We were given a set of rules and all we need to do is follow. Don't create your own obstacle course. God already made one. You go through life and just follow the rules exactly, and you'll win. There's room for millions of winners. We don't compete against each other. Anyone and everyone can win the Grand Prize. The Grand Prize is taking that soul that you created, that you elevated to become something, to be observant, to develop and control positive character traits; through the halls of Heaven, right up to your place amongst those other proud ones who made it through the rough parts. The smile on your face and the excitement that you feel never subsides. You made it and no-one can pull you down. God sits there smiling at you. All the angels are praising your work. Reminding you of some of those heavy accomplishments that you thought you'd never be able to do, but you tried anyway. You've won! Congratulations! If you throw caution to the wind, you-only-live-once kind of attitude, and you end up on the other side of the equation, your punishment is the exact opposite. You are placed in your proper place, with those that were the same as you. You spend eternity telling yourself, "I told you so!" The reward of a Mitzvah is the Mitzvah & vice-versa. When the "Iron Curtain" was built some unfortunate people ended up on the wrong side of the fence. Don't let that happen! It's in our hands. We control our own destiny. AA