Reply To: Yomim Noraim davening

Baruch Hashem, my davening went well this year. I think there’s a special siyata dishmaya when it comes to being a shliach tzibbur. After Mussaf, my throat was sore, and my voice didn’t sound great. During Mincha, when saying certain parts out loud, my voice sounded flat-out lousy – scratchy, like I had something stuck in my throat. No matter how many times I cleared my throat or coughed, it wouldn’t clear. I was nervous about Neilah – I had to be the shliach tzibbur again, and my voice was completely shot! I asked Hashem to help me out. When I got up there, and said the first pasuk of Ashrei out loud, my voice still didn’t sound great. But suddenly, it cleared up! Not only that, but the strength in it returned, and I was able to lead the davening with a voice at full strength. Hashem really helps out the Baalei tefillah! My grandfather A”H used to tell me that as well, and he was clearly right.

After Maariv, during the break fast in the shul, I got the best compliment. The president of the shul said to me, “You know what I enjoyed most about your davening? You have a very nice voice, and sing very well. But it always sounded like a davening! With some people, it becomes a performance. With you, while it sounded beautiful, it was always a davening. It never crossed the line to being a performance.”

That was the best review I’ve ever had.