Q. Our shul has a chazzan who has served the community nobly for more than 40 years, but his weakening voice and health issues have led to dissatisfaction in shul members. Can he be made to retire?
A: Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 53:25) rules that as long as a chazzan can reasonably serve, even if his voice is not as pleasing as before, he should not be removed. He can have other people, especially his son, help him occasionally, as needed. If the majority of the community prefer another chazzan, whose voice is more pleasant, the two should serve together (Mishnah Berurah 53:85).
Regarding other employees who don’t have positions of honor (srarah), we follow the terms of employment. Nonetheless, it is proper not to forsake a worker in his old age and to try to find a position suiting his current state (Pis’chei Choshen, Sechirus 10:11-12[36]).
If there is a common commercial practice regarding retirement or conditions to terminate employment, we follow the minhag hamedinah (ibid.).
