Children Singing Anim Zemiros

Question: I have noticed that certain shuls honour children to sing anim zemiros and open the aron beforehand, while other shuls do not. Is it appropriate to ask children?

Answer: The Bach (OC 132) writes that there is an ancient minhag to recite anim zemiros daily. Nonetheless, the Levush (OC 133) writes that one must not say it each day. Just as the Gemara (Shabbos 118b) teaches that we must not say hallel every day, so too, the awesome praises of Hashem within anim zemiros should be reserved for Shabbos and Yom Tov. He compares it to the kohen gadol who was only allowed to enter the kodesh hakodashim on Yom Kippur. Similarly, the Vilna Gaon (Maaseh Rav 53) maintained that anim zemiros should only be sung on Yom Tov.

Following this, R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:81) writes that it is inappropriate for a child to lead anim zemiros (see Rivevos Ephraim 5:237).

Nonetheless, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 12:99) allowed children to lead it. Many shuls follow this, especially as they want to encourage child participation at the end of davening.

The Mishna Berura (147:29) writes that a child should not hold a Sefer Torah. Seemingly, this should not apply to pesicha when the Torah is not removed. Thus, R’ Avraham Yeshaya Pfoifer (Ishei Yisrael 36:81) writes that it is acceptable to ask a child to open the aron hakodesh for anim zemiros.

In conclusion, while there are some shuls that only allow the chazzan to lead anim zemiros, it is appropriate to encourage the children to both lead it and open the aron hakodesh.