Shofar Blowing on Rosh Hashanah

Shofar-Blowing

In many communities it is customary for the rabbi to speak before the blowing of the Shofar. He should speak words that move the heart, engender humility and move one to Teshuvah.

Eating Before Hearing the Shofar

• It is best not to eat or drink before hearing the Shofar blowing.
• Women should preferably also not eat before hearing the Shofar. But if they are feeling weak, they may do so.
• Although generally one should not fast past midday on Yom Tov, on Rosh Hashana (that falls during the week), when we are pleading for our lives, it is permissible.
• One may drink water before davening (praying). Some are particular not even to drink water.
• One who is weak may have a small snack. If eating after Shacharit, one must first make Kiddush. Some say that if one is weak, it is better that he hears the Shofar blasts in the morning before davening in order that he not eat before fulfilling the mitzvah of the Shofar.

The Ba’al Tokei’a

The one who blows the Shofar (Ba'al Tokei’a) should be a righteous and learned person. He should review the Halachic and (if possible) the Kabbalistic aspects of blowing the Shofar beforehand (see below).

In addition, the Ba'al Makri (the one who points [or reads] to the Ba'al Tokei’a as to what sound to blow) should be a righteous man who is fluent in the laws and meanings of the blowing of the Shofar.

The Shofar

• The shofar should preferably be a ram’s horn. The horns of other kosher domestic animals are also acceptable except for those of a bull or ox.
• Non-Yemenites should not use shofars made from the horns of Kudus if there is a ram’s horn shofar available.
• The shofar must be longer than a Tefach (handbreadth) so that it is visible on both sides of the ba’al tokei'a’s hand when he is blowing it.
• A cracked shofar may be disqualified. One should not use it unless he ascertains its precise Halachic status.

No Talking

• The entire congregation should listen to the brachot and the blowing of the Shofar and keep in mind that they want to fulfill the Mitzvah. One should not say Boruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo during the recitation of the brachot. The brachot of the Shofar extend to and include the Shofar-blowing during the Musaf Amidah and the repetition of the Amidah. It is therefore not proper to talk until the end of the Shofar-blowing at the conclusion of Musaf (unless it is necessary for the davening or the Shofar-blowing).
• During the pauses in between the three sets of Shofar notes, one should think thoughts of Teshuvah. (It is not the Chabad custom to articulate any words at this time.)

Standing vs. Sitting

• The Ashkenaz custom is for the community to stand for all of the tekiot. The Sefardic custom is for the community to sit for the first 30 blasts. In fact, these blasts are called tekiot demeyushav (the sitting tekiot). According to all opinions, the community should stand while the brachot are being recited. The one blowing the Shofar must stand during the brachot and the blowing.

No Hearing Aid

One who uses a hearing aid but can also hear without one should remove his hearing aid for the shofar blowing so he can hear the sound with his natural hearing.