animal horn sounded on Rosh Hashana and other occasions
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Blowing shofar at a wedding
Friends of mine are getting married this Sunday and asked me if I would blow shofar at the chuppah. I have been ba'al toke'a probably 2/3 of the years since my bar mitzvah (2002) in three different ...
8
votes
2answers
137 views
Saying “Shehecheyanu” on Mitzvot on the second day of Yom Tov
The two days of Rosh Hashanah are considered as one day (Yoma Arichta), so why do we say Shehecheyanu when we blow the Shofar on the second day? Moreover even if we somehow view it as two days, why ...
6
votes
1answer
80 views
How much time is the Tekia of Shofar supposed to take?
When one blows Shofar on Rosh HaShana, how much time is the Tekia supposed to take in order to be Yotzei the Mitzva?
3
votes
1answer
109 views
Blowing a Shofar at night
Is there anything wrong with blowing a Shofar at night:
on Rosh HaShanah for the Mitzvah (or just because one missed it and wants to hear it, eg., the person was ill)
on Rosh HaShanah for practice ...
1
vote
3answers
138 views
How do we calculate 100 shofar blasts?
We are obligated to hear 100 shofar blasts on Rosh Hashona [source?] - how are those blasts calculated? Do we actually hear 100 or are there extra?
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Why do we still blow shofar during mussaf?
The gemarah (rosh hashana 32b) asks why we wait until mussaf to blow the shofar and answers that the ruling enemies of the Jews mistook the shofar sound for a rallying war cry and forbade it. They ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
Why is the word Shofar somtimes spelled with a Vav and somtimes without a Vav?
There are times that the word Shofar is spelled without a Vav - for example
שמות: יט. טז.
ויהי ביום השלישי בהית הבקר ויהי קלת וברקים וענן כבד על ההר וקל שפר חזק מאד ויחרד כל העם אשר במחנה
or שמות: ...
8
votes
2answers
98 views
How to blow a t'rua
How does one effect a t'rua when blowing a shofar on Rosh Hashana? The airflow must be stopped and started repeatedly in a short time, but it can, I suppose, be stopped either
at the glottis,
at the ...
7
votes
3answers
258 views
What does “to confuse the Satan” mean?
There are several things we don't do in order "to confuse the Satan", like not blowing Shofar on Erev Rosh Hashana. How does it help? Does Satan not realize that Rosh Hashana
didn't pass yet? He ...
7
votes
1answer
119 views
What to think about during each shofar sound
There are all kinds of meanings traditionally associated with the shofar blowing, as well as with each of its individual sounds. During the Rosh Hashana service, we have many sets of repetitions of ...
6
votes
1answer
125 views
Yemenite shofar not from sheep
I've heard that Yemenite Jews follow the Rambam for halacha generally, and Wikipedia concurs.
The Rambam writes that one must use a sheep's horn as the shofar on Rosh Hashana. Shulchan Aruch is less ...
4
votes
2answers
82 views
What is the origin of the shofar sounds?
There are 4 major shofar sounds, or notes, sounded on Rosh Hashana:
Tekiah: A long, continuous blast.
Shevarim: Three short "broken" blasts.
Teruah: A rapid series of nine or more very short blasts.
...
3
votes
2answers
118 views
How should a neophyte learn to play the shofar?
What steps should a person take to develop initial competence in sounding the shofar?
Are there online or other training materials available? Any tips specifically for a neophyte?
0
votes
2answers
296 views
Bracha on Blowing Shofar the whole month
Why is there no Bracha made on the Blowing of Shofar in Elul, like there is a bracha when one reads the Meggilah on Purim and lights candles on Chanukah (which are also Rabbinic)?
1
vote
2answers
78 views
7
votes
1answer
226 views
Yachid blowing shofar during Elul
During the first few days of Elul, I will be away in a city with no minyan. I have a shofar, but was wondering whether a yachid blows a shofar if possible.
On the one hand, the reasoning exists, but ...
8
votes
3answers
126 views
Shofar Certification
When purchasing a Shofar, is it necessary to look for a 'hechsher' to ensure that it was manufactured properly (e.g, no cracks), or can its suitability be determined just by visual examination?
4
votes
2answers
77 views
