Who is Qualified to Sound the Shofar?
The Shulchan Aruch begins its exploration of fitness by citing excluding classes of people:
1. A Baal Tekiah can perform this mitzvah again, if no one else is available who is qualified. If one does have such an obligation (such as women who are not required to abide by time-bound mitzvot, can't perform the mitzvah. [ Mishna Berura 589:1 (1)] The Rabbi's reasoned that If perform a mitzvah, have an obligation to help another perfect his own obligation because all Israel responsible for one another.
2. The mitzvah is not valid for a deaf mute (cannot hear), moron (lacks the capacity) and a child (lacks the adult status). Women are exempt because the mitzvah is time-bound. If a person has a certain level of obligation, such as a woman, then she performs that obligation. The problem between men and women comes when there are different levels of obligations. Men cannot no waive time-bound mitzvahs.
3. A hermaphrodite may make his Shofar sounding serve for other hermaphrodites
4. Women should not be Baal Tekia's because they would be substituting her efforts for another whose duty it is to perform a mitzvah. However, if a female Baala Tekiya has already intoned the Shofar for other women, it is valid. However, women should not make a blessing.
5. Only a freeman (not even a slave who will become free in the next month) can be a Baal Tekiya. (Shulchan Aruch 590:1-5)
Generally, a person fit to sound the Shofar is a male adult who is obligated to perform the mitzvah of sounding the Shofar. ( cUh¦j RC ) . His repeat performance does not serve to relieve others of that obligation. (Shulchan Aruch 589:1)
Being a Baal Tekiya (Shofar Sounder) is an honor.
The one who blows the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah . . . should likewise be learned in the Torah and shall be God-fearing; the best man available. Nevertheless, every Jew is eligible for any sacred office, providing he is acceptable to the congregation. If, however, he sees that his choice will cause disruption, he should withdraw his candidacy, even if the improper person will be chosen. Shulchan Aruch 3:72.
Moreover, the Baal Tekiya shall abstain from anything that may cause ritual contamination for three days prior to Rosh Hashanah. Shulchan Aruch 3:73
A Baal Tekiya can sound the shofar for shut-ins, hospital patients and home-bound women who had recently given birth.
If a blind blower was dismissed, but the community did not find a blower as proficient, he should be appointed as community blower. The touchstone is proficiency not disability. (Radbaz)
Who is Fit to Blow the Shofar?
In addition, a deaf-mute, moron and child are not required to hear the Shofar. However, if a hard of hearing person can hear through an assistive device, he is permitted to sound the shofar. [Mishna Berura 591:1 (2)]
An Onan (one who is not yet in mourning but whose parent has died but not been buried), not required. R. Kolbo - compiler and halachist of prayer book
The Rema ruled if one cannot speak but can hear, then obligated (Mishna Berura589:1 (2)
A hermaphrodite may make his blowing serve other hermaphrodite (his own kind) If a male person heard the blasts form a hermaphrodite or indeterminate sex, should be blown again, without prayer. 587:4 (5) In any event, even if a hermaphrodite sound the Shofar, he shall not offer a prayer (Magen Avraham, commentator on the Shulchan Aruch)
A partial slave and partial freeman cannot sound the Shofar because one half can't act for the other half. (SA 587:8)
There are general exceptions to this rule of exclusion: a person who perform mitzvahs w/o obligation will receive reward (SA 587:7); and a child is also able to blow Shofar on RH even initially in order to be educated to performance of mitzvah. (Shulchan Aruch 587:9; Mishna Berura 596 gloss -- a child must be educated in Shofar even after Shofar notes are sounded)
See Arthur L. Finkle, Easy Guide to Shofar Sounding, Torah Aura, LA, 2002
For more information about Holy Temple instruments.
We have three websites
1) Shofar Sounders WebPage
http://shofar221.com
2) Joint Effort with Michael Chusid,an expert Shofar sounder and commentator
http://www.hearingshofar.com
3) Shofar WebPage
http://shofar-sounders.com
If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to ask.
Art Finkle and Michael Chusid
Shofar19067@hotmail.com & Michael@chusid.com
The Shofar is blown at the very end of the Fast at Nightfall - approximately 25 hours after the fast begins on the previous day.
The blowing of the Shofar signifies the end of Yom Kippur, and following which the prayer 'Leshana Habaa Beyrushalayim' (Next year in Jerusalem) is recited aloud in song.
Yes. The Talmud indicates that a woman can sound the Shofar, but only for other women.
The basic 'mitzvah' (commandment) concerning the shofar on Rosh Hashana is the commandment to hear it. For that reason, it's common for one who is able to competently render the various sounds to take the shofar to shut-ins on Rosh Hashana afternoons, and give them the opportunity to recite the blessing and hear the sounds. If no men were qualified, available, or willing to do this, a woman might perform this kindness, especially for other women who had not been able to attend the synagogue service. For the shofar service itself in the synagogue ... on the morning of Rosh Hashana or any morning service during the month before ... especially in an Orthodox synagogue, a woman would not be the individual selected to blow the shofar.
See related links:
We blow the shofar because God commanded us to (Numbers 29:1). Symbolically, it is a declaration the God is King, just as people blow trumpets when the king appears. It is also a reminder that the day of shofar-blowing (Rosh Hashanah) is a day of judgment.
No, that's a harp. A shofar is a Jewish's ram's horn.
Preparations One Whole Month Before Rosh HashanahTisha B'av signals to me that there are 7-weeks before Rosh HaShanah. Therefore, I spiritually prepare myselfby practicing the shofar at the beginning of the next month - Elul. During Elul, we customarilysound the shofar at the end of morning services.Sounding the shofar at services is a practical way of preparing for the "real deal" on Rosh HaShanah. In addition, this period serves as a reminder to orient my attention to appropriate repentance.Being a Shofar Sounder and Shofar teacher for 30+ years, I want to share a routine is based on sound musical principals expressed (hopefully) in plain English.art finkle
The first person to blow the shofar was Moses in 10 BCE
Blowing the Shofar is a form of musical instrument, and playing musical instruments is generally prohibited on Shabbat to honor the day's rest. However, there are exceptions to this rule, like during the High Holidays when it is allowed to blow the Shofar.
The basic 'mitzvah' (commandment) concerning the shofar on Rosh Hashana is the commandment to hear it. For that reason, it's common for one who is able to competently render the various sounds to take the shofar to shut-ins on Rosh Hashana afternoons, and give them the opportunity to recite the blessing and hear the sounds. If no men were qualified, available, or willing to do this, a woman might perform this kindness, especially for other women who had not been able to attend the synagogue service. For the shofar service itself in the synagogue ... on the morning of Rosh Hashana or any morning service during the month before ... especially in an Orthodox synagogue, a woman would not be the individual selected to blow the shofar.
See related links:
Orthodox and Conservative Jews do not blow the shofar on Rosh Hashannah when Rosh Hashannah falls on a Saturday. This is to honor the Sabbath. However, both celebrate Rosh Hashannah as a two-day festival, so they blow the other day of the festival. Many Reform Jews only celebrate Rosh Hashannah as a one-day festival, but they aren't stringent about prohibited work on the Sabbath, so they blow the Shofar on Saturday.
The shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, blown as a call to worship. It's symbolism is based in the story of Abraham and Isaac, in which a ram is sacrificed to G-d. Today, it is used mainly during the high holy days.
Shofar of Freedom Award was created in 1990.
Reform Jews outside Israel generally celebrate Rosh Hashanah for only one day, while all other Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah for two days. Reform Jews blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah even if it falls on Shabbat (the Sabbath), while others refrain from blowing the shofar on Shabbat.
The correct spelling is shofar. The plural is shofarot (or shofaros according to the traditional Ashkenazi spelling).
The shofar is an ancient communication instrument. It's origins are unknown.
We blow the shofar because God commanded us to (Numbers 29:1). Symbolically, it is a declaration the God is King, just as people blow trumpets when the king appears. It is also a reminder that the day of shofar-blowing (Rosh Hashanah) is a day of judgment.
No, that's a harp. A shofar is a Jewish's ram's horn.