Bidspirit auction | (SATIRE). Shelosha Tzoa’kim V’Einan Ne’enin

(SATIRE). Shelosha Tzoa’kim V’Einan Ne’enin [polemical poem criticizing Ashkenazi synagogue cantors]. MANUSCRIPT IN HEBREW. Anonymous.  One-and-a-half pages written in an Aschkenazic cursive hand on one long folio leaf. Stamp of Layzer Ran. Eastern Europe, Late-17th century. A FORCEFUL TIRADE AGAINST IGNORANT AND INCOMPETENT CHAZANIM IN POLAND AND GERMANY.              Written in rhyme, with copious Biblical and Talmudic wordplay, the poem is entitled “Three Cry Out and Are Not Answered” (after Tract. Bava Metzia, f. 75b). “The Three” represent the Cantor and his two-person accompanying choir who are accused of immodest showmanship and ignorance of the prayers they chant. By their lack of understanding Hebrew, wantonly both skipping and repeating words, such melodies are not sung with the intention of praising God, but “stem from the circus music of clowns!” Thus polluting the potential beauty of Shabbat synagogue services.      Interestingly, towards the end, the poem turns to praise the cantorial tradition found in Italy, the Islamic lands and India. “[They who] pray pleasantly, whose words are pronounced precisely, do not cry out haughtily and fully understand what they are praying.”      The text emphasizes that the purpose here is not to degrade anyone, but solely to put an end to unfortunate practices. The author realizes however that his diatribe will be taken as an attack, hence he chooses to remain anonymous. Also known as Tochacha LeChazanim [“Chastisement of the Cantors”] the text inspired an apologetic response by R. Joel Sirkes of Leipa, which was published by his son Leib, and entitled Re'ach Nicho'ach (Fuerth, 1724).      For an analysis, see M. L. Klein, Re'ach Nichoach: A Pleasing Aroma, Prayer Leadership and Cantorial Mussar in the 18th Century (2011). https://www.academia.edu/54398666/_A_Pleasing_Aroma_Prayer_Leadership_and_Cantorial_ Mussar_Ethics_in_the_18th_century