hazzan
/xəˈzɑːn
/ /ˈhɑːz(ə)n/noun (plural hazzanim)
Another term for cantor (sense 1).I really thought nothing of it. [When I was in the army] I spent most weekends at home, and went to services at the local synagogue where I would join the hazzan for lunch and spend the afternoon with his family studying the Bible....
- At the present time, 20 hazzanim per year are graduated from the major training institutions combined.
- The second CD contains performances of cantorial music and Yiddish songs by hazzanim who were active in Amsterdam.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Hebrew ḥazzān 'cantor', possibly from Assyrian hazannu 'mayor, headman'.