Congregation Shirat Shalom

Information may not be reliable

My mentor, former spiritual leader and teacher, Hazzan Alan Smolen died on Friday October 22, 2010. Words can not adequately express my sympathies to his family and the sense of loss that I personally feel. Even though he and his wife Marla moved to New Jersey several years ago and were guiding different congregations, I could always contact him with questions or get his help with personal issues.
Unfortunately, the circumstances of his death were made public as was a negative situation involving some members of the Elgin Jewish community that put a black mark on his name in 2004. In Judaism, a man’s name is his reputation and his life, especially for a spiritual leader.
However, the subject of this article is to share the joys of Judaism that Hazzan Smolen brought to so many people in various ways. I’ve referred to Pirkei Avot, the Torah and Mishnah sources that are more adept at wordsmithing than I.
1. Hazzan Smolen’s beautiful voice and training as a Cantor demonstrated his kavanah (intention) when he was leading services and praying. I’ve heard many fellow congregants say “once you’ve listened to the best hazzan, it’s hard to daven without one.
“Kavanah means proper thoughts and devotion, proper intention and attention, "to clear the heart (mind) of all thoughts and visualize oneself as standing in the presence of the Shechinah.’ Practically speaking, this means that prayer involves two faculties of man: speech and thought.” Source: Chabad.org

2. He encouraged people to return to Judaism and live it. He was a good role model, by encouraging Jews to keep kosher and enjoy the Sabbath by resting.
“Yehoshua first advises us that we "make" for ourselves a rabbi. We discussed recently (Mishna 4) the role of the Torah scholar within Judaism. As we saw, a rabbi is hardly a religious functionary, conducting services at a synagogue, wedding or funeral, nor is he simply one who is asked to decide matters of Jewish law. A true rabbi is firstly one who serves as a role model for his community, who does not only teach G-d's Torah, but who lives and exemplifies those same values as well.”
Source: http://torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos

3. Hazzan Smolen brought fellow cantors to Illinois and New Jersey congregations in the form of Jewish musical programs including beautiful renditions of Hebrew prayers in Shabbat and weekday services. He introduced audiences to famous Jewish cantors, such as Alberto Mizrachi, David Propis, Meir Finkelstein (the youngest cantor in Europe). Often, his Shabbat prayer melodies included compositions by Meir Finkelstein’s and Craig Taubman.

“The pasuk [verse] from which we learn the mitzvah to write a Sefer Torah says ‘And now write for yourselves this song...’ [Devorim 31:19]. The Torah refers to itself as a 'Song' (Shirah). Why is Torah called Shirah?”

Fourth, he encouraged adults to study for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and taught adults to lead services, read Torah and Haftarah. He stepped aside during Shabbat services to give us practice. For me, this led to leading Shabbat services for several months at Congregation Shirat Shalom while we searched for a new spiritual leader. I never could have done it without his help. He used the latest technology, recording CDs and MP3s, even emailing me the MP3s of my favorite prayers in his repertoire.

On a personal note: After the Hazzan and Marla left for New Jersey, I found in the classroom closet, a white kittel with a note on it with a smiley face and "Isn't this better than a cane in the corner? Kris Kringle"
He bought a new kittel and gave me his old one which I had tailored and wore to lead High Holiday Services and still wear today.

“He explained that music has not only been a big part of Jewish worship, but also of Jewish culture. Smolen said the word hazzan comes from the Hebrew root word for vision.
“It means someone who is a visionary. It is someone who by melding text and music can inspire vision in others, to not only lead the congregation in unison singing, but also to chant solos that congregants cannot vocally do, to interpret the music through text and proper phrasing,” he said.

Smolen said he hopes to inspire others in their quest for God and spirituality. “I also want to be present not only at traditional worship services, but also during life cycle events, as well as community celebrations, and to be together to mourn as well, when necessary. I want to be present in the lives of congregants and to offer some measure of both celebration and comfort at various times,” Smolen said.
He said his mission is also to offer an appreciation of Jewish history through music.

Smolen has degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Columbia University, both in New York City. The synagogue director said Smolen will be a great addition to the synagogue.

“He is a true professional and he has already begun working with our children on their bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah lessons, and the kids love him,” he said.

Smolen performs what he calls “a good mix of traditional motif signature singing and toplevel cutting-edge contemporary Jewish music.”

“I don’t believe in being the flavor of the moment. I want to be something that is going to last,” he said.

Smolen said he is looking forward to introducing more contemporary Jewish music along with traditional song in some type of concert venue since the synagogue does not use instrumental music with its services.

Smolen is married to Marla Topp, who has served as a director of education and coordinator for children’s programming for conservative afternoon schools and Jewish community centers.

I’m sorry that Hazzan Smolen’s song and voice will no longer be heard in person. May his memory be for a blessing and may he rest in peace.