Day off

Today the Gabbai (more on the Gabbai's role in a later post) informed me just before the morning services that I had a "day off," meaning that someone else, a person who had a yahrzeit, would be leading the prayers.  I felt my muscles relax and sat down,  enjoying the feeling of being a follower rather than a leader, a welcome change of pace.  Praying feels so different when you are seated among the assembly as opposed to standing alone in the front as the leader.  A month ago, during Chanukah, I got an entire eight days off from leading prayers, a "vacation" as it was called, because a mourner does not lead prayers at a time of celebration.  Come Sunday, I'm sure I'll be back at the Amud.