[Avodah] Fighting To Be Chazan?

[Prof. Levine]

At 02:04 PM 8/23/2011, R. Zev Sero wrote:

>On 22/08/2011 8:40 AM, Prof. Levine wrote:
> > Although I am sure that the above writer did not have this in 
> mind when he wrote, "Do not make Klal Yisrael into many different 
> groups by having Divergent Halachic Practices."  to me this brings 
> to mind the practice that seems to have become increasingly common 
> today of making more than one minyan if there are two or more 
> chiyuvim.  How do those who do this reconcile this practice with 
> the principle of  B'rov Am Hadras Melech?
>
>You just gave the answer: in order not to make machlokes.  If there
>aren't enough minyanim for all the avelim then who should get precedence?
>Why should one be more important than another?  So "lo titgodedu" means
>that the minyan should split up in order to accommodate both.  (The gemara
>says explicitly that lo titgodedu does not apply when there are two batei
>din in a town, each ruling its own way; presumably each person may choose
>which BD to follow, and this is not called "divergent practises".  By the
>same principle, splitting into separate minyanim is not a violation of
>"lo titgodedu", whereas having two chazanim in the same minyan might be.)

There is a hierarchy in halacha regarding who gets precedence.  In 
addition, according to the din, which most places do not follow, only 
one person is supposed to say kaddish at a time.

There is a story about Reb Yisroel Salanter who had Yahrtzeit for his 
father.  Also, where RYS davened only one person said 
kaddish.  Someone came in who did not normally daven for the Amud and 
insisted on davening for the Amud.  RYS clearly took precedence, and 
this fellow was told this.  He got upset.  When RYS saw this he told 
the people to let this fellow daven for the Amud and say kaddish.

Afterwards, Reb Yisroel was asked why he did this.  After all, he was 
entitled al pi din to daven for the Amud and to say kaddish. He 
replied, "I thought it was a bigger zechus for my father not to pain 
this fellow and let him daven and say kaddish."

Too bad people do not have this attitude, but instead fight for the 
Amud and insist on saying kaddish in mass.   YL
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