Editing Hazzan (section)

==History==
Early sources in the [[Mishnah]] refer to a position called ''chazzan hakenesset'', which involved leadership roles in public prayer, although not necessarily involving music or singing. Later, as public worship was developed in the [[Geonim|Geonic period]] and as the knowledge of the Hebrew language declined, singing gradually superseded the role of sermons in synagogue worship, and the role of ''chazzan'' began to focus on chanting or singing of the prayers.<ref name=trm>[https://mattausterklein.substack.com/p/the-development-of-chazanut-in-the The Development of Chazanut in the Medieval Period]</ref> Thus, while the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources, the office of the ḥazzan increased in importance with the centuries, evolving a specialized set of skills and becoming a career in itself.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.jta.org/2008/08/15/life-religion/rip-orthodox-cantoring?_ga=2.170917606.757822227.1543719664-232171041.1543719664
|title=R.I.P. Orthodox cantoring? |date=August 15, 2008  |website=JTA.org}}</ref>