The Chazzan Who Lost His Voice

The Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz once heard a beautiful niggun from a chazzan, and it prompted him to tell the following story.

Rav Mordechai once passed by a shul, and out of its windows drifted the most delightful and soulful melody. He said, "Master of the World, Ribono Shel Olam, If only I had such a voice, I would sing Your praises unceasingly with sweet melodies."

His prayer was accepted on High. From then on, that chazzan lost his voice, and Rav Mordechai became the famed Zaslover Chazzan, with a remarkable voice full of power and strength.

The Imrei Chaim concluded, "If you can use such a sweet voice for avodas Hashem, isn't that wonderful?"