cantor

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Pronunciations

cantor (KAN-tur) listen

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Definitions

  • n. The leader of prayer and song in a synagogue.

Example Sentences

  • "But when I go to my Reform synagogue at home, which is led by a rabbi-cantor with musical accompaniment, I have never, not once, gotten through the whole Amidah (and I'm a fast reader) before the cantor moves into what can only be described as the next "track" in her album as people fawn over her beautiful singing voice." (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • English

Who Uses This

  • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
  • Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

Regions

  • North America

Dictionaries

  • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

Notes

  • "The cantor, who stands on the bimah with the rabbi, sings and chants the prayers, solo or with the worshipers. He or she often teaches and helps children prepare for their approaching Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies. Called hazzan in Hebrew." (JPS)

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