The Chicago Board of Rabbis revived today the controversy over cantors officiating at weddings with a statement that “the proper officiant at all Jewish wedding ceremonies should be only a duly ordained rabbi.”
The board said it had issued the statement because of “recent discussions in the community concerning the officiants at the wedding ritual.” The statement held that a couple “embarking upon the sacred responsibilities of marriage,” should have the “spiritual guidance, counsel and inspiration of a rabbi,” The cantor could properly participate in the ceremony by chanting appropriate portions of the service only with the rabbi, the statement said.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
