48. Reb Eliyahu Lopian zt'l once heard a chazan say המלך, and he sensed that he said it with gaavah. When the opportunity arose, he approached the chazan and asked him why he didn't say המלך correctly. The chazan didn't understand what he meant, because he said המלך with the traditional tune. Reb Elyah Lopian explained, "When I heard you say המלך, I sensed that you also want to be 'king', and two kings can't wear the same crown."
One of the pious Yidden of Yerushalayim was a chazan for many years in the beis medresh חמה זהרי. He davened there on the yomim noraim, year after year. Once, before the Rosh Hashanah of year ה"תרפ, a respected person came from chutz l'aretz and requested to be the chazan that year. The chazan didn't know whether he should grant him his request or whether he should stand up for his rights and demand that he remain the chazan that year, as well. He asked Reb Shlomo Eliyashev zt'l (the Leshem). Reb Eliyashev replied, "When one suffers from a disappointment before the days of judgment, that is very helpful for him. It is mesugal for a good judgment. In any event, if it is bashert that you be a chazan, you will be a chazan somewhere else." And that occurred; a very respected community called him to be the chazan.
