How much time is the Tekia of Shofar supposed to take?

Question

When one blows Shofar on Rosh HaShana, how much time is the Tekia supposed to take in order to be Yotzei the Mitzva?

Answer 1

• As long as the Shevarim-Teruah in TaShRa"T
• As long as the Shevarim in TaSha"T
• As long as the Teruah in TaRa"T

Source Shulchan Aruch HaRav 590:7

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As to how long the Shevarim and the Teruah have to be, it depends on the definition of the Teruah. It is 3 Yevavot (not quite sure how to translate that, see Talmud Rosh Hashanah 33B), and according to some opinions a Yevava is 1 staccato blast, and according to others it is 3 staccato blasts.

A Shevarim need to last as long as a Teruah.

Therefore, according to the first opinion:

• Tekiah as long as the Shevarim-Teruah in TaShRa"T == the length of 6 short blasts
• Tekiah as long as the Shevarim in TaSha"T == the length of 3 short blasts
• Tekiah as long as the Teruah in TaRa"T == the length of 3 short blasts

According to the second opinion:

• Tekiah as long as the Shevarim-Teruah in TaShRa"T == the length of 18 short blasts
• Tekiah as long as the Shevarim in TaSha"T == the length of 9 short blasts
• Tekiah as long as the Teruah in TaRa"T == the length of 9 short blasts

Source: Shulchan Aruch HaRav 590:4-6

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LeHalacha, The Shulchan Aruch HaRav (590:7) says that one should LeChatchila follow the second opinion. Bedieved he fulfills his obligation if he followed the first opinion. If he mixed up the two opinions in such a way that he would not have fulfilled it according to either of the two opinions he must redo it.