Sha"tz Siddur

In many Kehillos there was a special Siddur for the Shli'ach Tzibbur. The reason for this was to make sure the Chazzan davens according to the Kehillas nusach and the davening is not influenced by the siddurim from outside. In KAYJ we have a special Siddur printed for the Shli'ach Tzibbur (by MMA), and I understand that also in Washington Heights the Chazzan has his own siddur.

There was opposition to a handwritten siddur by the "Toras Shabbos", because we should not be writing siddurim (as the gemoroh says - Kosvei Brochos Kesorfei Torah), and although today we do use siddurim and do not daven by heart - the Toras Shabbos held it is better to use a printed siddur than to write a siddur with Shemos (the inyon of written Shemos is in Sefer Aftartoh, and not in a siddur, see Shorshei Minhag Ashkenaz #3). But today that printing is easily done with computers - every Kehilloh can easily print there own siddur for the chazzan, and this way they gain both points - it's not handwritten and its got the Kehilla's nusach.

Michael FRBSH