Letter to Samuel Isaac Norzi: On Prayer

Introduction by A. J. S. Graziano

A halakhic decision written by Netanel Trabotto about singers [accompanying prayer in the synagogue] who repeated the word crown as well as the Name of God, and they also sang the priestly blessing. He ruled that it was prohibited, and that a person should never depart from custom, because this will lead to dispute. Furthermore, it was in opposition to the opinion of the Ḥakham Samuel Isaac Norzi of Senigallia, of blessed memory, teacher of R. Mordechai, may he rest in peace, and R. Solomon Rocca, may the Rock preserve him, of Urbino.

Trabotto’s Text

Esteemed Gentlemen . . . heads and wardens of the Holy Congregation of Senigallia, along with the entire congregation . . . our sages of blessed memory spoke well when they said: “Who is wise? He who sees the future” [m. Avot 2:9], for no sin comes his way . . . and I, not because of any great wisdom that is within me, I took the initiative to write . . . what seems right in my eyes regarding the issue of the music . . . and I saw that it is not good to innovate customs in communities without their knowledge and wishes, and without the agreement of the local rabbi . . . and on this matter I saw that the plague of leprosy had spread, and the city was divided into several factions . . . and in this letter I informed your excellences what the halakhic authorities have written: a wise man should not permit questionable things, as it might appear to others that he has permitted what is prohibited, even regarding something that is permitted according to law.

As to the letter of the law, I maintain that it is not appropriate to repeat the word crown several times, for it appears to be a mockery in the eyes of the public, who do not know the rules of music and its practice. . . .

In addition, concerning their repeated mention of God in the verse: These are the appointed times of the Lord (Leviticus 23:4), and the word Lord in “Lord, bring us back,” and their singing of the name of God several times in other hymns and songs, it appears to me that this is not a good thing, whether for the reasons that I wrote to my close friend, the master of Norzi [the sage R. Samuel Isaac], may the Rock preserve him, or because for ignorant people the mention of His name several times is a defect. . . . Furthermore, based on what I have heard regarding the singing of the words of the priestly blessing when they are read to the priests, it does not seem right to me, that is to say, it does not seem reasonable to me, that the Bible should be sung with a melody of music, as if its melodies were more pleasant than the melodies of the priests. Also, the priests are warned not to change their melodies and use different melodies in the priestly blessing.

In summary, with regard to all of these things, even if it were possible to rummage up some justification to permit them, we should not allow them due to the controversies . . . it is also proper for all the members of the holy congregation to be respectful of the honor of their teacher.

Modena, Tuesday, the parashah: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:12), 5406