Chazans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A cantor who leads the congregation in prayers and chants during services in synagogues
2. A person, often trained musically, who performs liturgical singing and assists in religious ceremonies in Jewish worship
3. An individual responsible for the spiritual atmosphere of prayer through vocal and musical guidance in synagogue rituals

Etymology: "Chazans" is the plural of "chazan," a Hebrew-derived noun for the person who leads prayer and sings liturgical music in a synagogue. The singular comes from Hebrew "ḥazzan," meaning something like "overseer" or "one who sees to," a sense that reflects the office's original role of supervising the synagogue and its services rather than singing alone. Over time the role grew musically central. Cantors, as they are often called in English, were expected to chant the prayers in a melodic tradition, and the plural simply refers to the group of such leaders as a class of people, whether in a community, a school, or a congregation's history.