It should be apparent to those who’ve experienced Danny Maseng that our synagogue’s choice of him as our Chazzan and Music Director was wise and visionary. We initially set out to find a new cantor who was a mensch; who was smart, passionate, and whose soul soared as if on eagles’ wings. We wanted a chazzan who was learned, whose exuded ahavat Yisrael, a love for the Jewish people, and who was graced with expansive and distinct musical gifts.
Soon after we began our search, Danny’s candidacy became a real possibility. Because he’d been an artist in residence at Temple Israel before this time, we knew how gifted he was as a teacher, writer, poet, story teller, and as a prodigious musical talent. When Danny and our Search Committee agreed at last that ours was a shidduch, not only was I thrilled beyond words, as were so many of us, but I knew how immeasurably enhanced our community would be once he joined us formally as chazzan this past summer. I have not been disappointed.
Danny is a unique spiritual leader. His vision is clear, his principles well formed, his moral compass strong, his music moving and beautiful. He provokes us, moves us and inspires us, and speaking for both Rabbi Missaghieh and myself, as a fellow religious leader we feel edified by his company, delighted by our partnership, and thrilled to be able to carry forward together the work of Temple Israel of Hollywood.
I’m thrilled as well that in Danny I’ve found a new friend and passionate Zionist who I cherish more and more every day. And I’m delighted that with Danny we also are graced with his wife Terry, and his son Jonathan.
Over the past two years much change has come to our community. During this time I’ve spent many hours reflecting about the meaning and importance of religious leadership generally and about the role of the Chazzan in a synagogue in particular.
The 16th century legal code, the Shulchan Aruch (chapter 55), notes that the chazzan was among the most important people in the Jewish community because it was his task l’kareiv et amo laAdonai – to draw his people closer to God. The Holy Ari, Rabbi Isaac Luria of Tsfat, explained that the role of the chazzan is suggested in the title itself. It isn’t just to be the musical leader. The Ari taught that the word chazzan is in the form of an acronym. It’s spelled – chet – zayin - nun – three letters that represent three tasks he is charged to undertake – chibbuk (chet - embracing) – z’vug (zayin - union) – and nishuk (nun –a kiss). In other words, through the chazzan the people are meant to experience a Divine embrace, a Godly union and a Holy kiss.
The burden on the chazzan, therefore, is very great indeed, because without him, the community’s prayer can’t rise to the place of God. Without an able chazzan, our prayer in truth lies dead on the floor; it doesn’t ascend, and the vital connection we seek with God cannot occur.
We’ve discovered in Danny Maseng a chazzan of this kind – a passionate seeking creative yearning Jew who strives himself to rise to be one with God and to bring us all along with him as if riding on the wings of doves.
Having said this, we have to remember that Danny cannot do this all by himself – for the chazzan doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The prayer of one person must feed the prayer of the other; one heart must touch and open the heart of a second; a single soul must feed the soul of another as together, as one community of faith, we celebrate life’s deepest gifts and pray that we might all be able to stand at heaven’s gates.
