Mood Mix with Cantor Benjamin Muller

Beloved for his warmth as well as his legendary tenor voice, CANTOR BENJAMIN MULLER is one of the senior chazzanim of the frum world, having served in Johannesburg, Montreal, and, for the past 48 years, leading the tefillos at the large Shomrei Hadass shul in Antwerp. As a devotee of Yossele Rosenblatt’s nusach and style, he’s the patriarch of chazzanim in more ways than one: He’s the father of Chazzan Yossi Muller, Chazzan Yisrael Muller, and Chazzan Rafi Muller, and the uncle of Chazzan Zevi Muller of the West Side Institutional Synagogue, New York City. His first-night Selichos at Shomrei Hadass are broadcast annually on Belgian national television, and he has been knighted in Belgium for his distinguished contribution to Jewish music.

THE NUSACH OF MY CHILDHOOD

I was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, where we had a most wonderful baal tefillah by the name of Reb Chaim Fuchs a”h. As a child, I really learned from and was inspired by his rendering of nusach throughout the year, but especially on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

THE SONG THAT GETS ME INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE YAMIM NORAIM

The entire nusach and the traditional melodies of the first night of Selichos evoke just the right mood in preparation for Rosh Hashanah.

WHEN I START PREPARING

My wife always remarks that soon after Shavuos, without even noticing it, I’m already humming the Yamim Noraim tunes. But officially, I start preparing by the middle of Av.

HOW THE CONGREGATION EMPOWERS THE TEFILLAH

The Kaddish before we begin Mussaf sweeps up the entire tzibbur in its momentous traditional nusach. Other points where the congregation davens out loud together, adding inspiration, are Unesaneh Tokef, Kol Nidrei, and Yossele Rosenblatt’s beautiful Kaddish Shalem at the end.