We previously discussed the machlokes between Rashi and Tosfos as to what is the correct length of a tekiah and a teruah. According to Rashi, for a teruah, it is enough to blow three short sounds, but according to Tosfos it must be nine short sounds. The length of the tekiah will also depend on this machlokes. According to Rashi the tekiah must be the length of three short sounds, and according to Tosfos, the length of nine short sounds.
The opinion of Rashi can also be a chumra
Although Rashi’s opinion is usually a kula, allowing for a short tekiah or teruah, it can also be a chumra, in certain situations.
Let us talk about the following scenario: one is up to the set of tr”t and when blowing the teruah he got stuck in the middle of the teruah, blowing only three short sounds. According to Tosfos, that is not a valid teruah and he can just blow the teruah again. However, according to Rashi, this was a good teruah and if he wants to blow another teruah that can be a problem of a hefsek, breaking the connection between the first and last tekiah. The only way to satisfy both Rashi and Tosfos, would be by starting again that set of tr”t. This is, indeed, the ruling of the Chayei Adam (142:12) that one should be machmir both ways and start over that set.
The Eleph Hamagen (a commentary on the Mateh Efraim) quotes an interesting compromise mentioned by the Maharsham in Daas Torah (590:8). He suggests that this depends on mitzvos tzrichos kavanah (to fulfill a mitzvah, one must have in mind to fulfill the mitzvah). When he started to blow nine sounds, he was trying to fulfill the mitzvah according to Tosfos and was not willing to suffice with the three sounds, which is good according to Rashi. Therefore, the three short sounds that he blew are not a fulfillment of a mitzvah and should not be a hefsek.
But then he suggests that this is only true on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, when blowing the shofar is a Scriptural command. Then the regulations of mitzvos tzrichos kavanah will apply and we can invalidate a sound blown without the proper intent. However, when he blows on the second day, which is of a rabbinical nature, we do not apply the rule of mitzvos tzerichos kavanah. Therefore, the sound blown, even without the proper intent, will be halachically valid and will cause the connection between the first and last tekiah to be lost. Thus, it will come out an interesting twist, where the second day of Rosh Hashanah will be stricter than the first.
The Maharsham brings the Orchos Chaim and the Hadras Kodesh, who rule that even on the 2nd day you were not yotzei, because it is like one who had in mind not to fulfill the mitzvah, which negates the mitzvah fulfillment, even by a dirabanan.
The Eleph Hamagen, however, takes issue with this suggestion. He asserts that the concept of mitzvos tzrichos kavanah is only applicable in a case when one has in mind not to fulfill the mitzvah. But in this case, he does have in mind to fulfill the mitzvah of blowing a teruah. Since a person wants to fulfill a mitzvah, why should we assume that he does not want to fulfill the mitzvah according to any opinion?
However, the Mikraei Kodesh (Yamim Nora’im 18) rules that this is considered having in mind to fulfill the mitzvah and one must therefore blow that set again. The same ruling is given by the Minchas Yitzchok (7:38:1) and Rav Elyashiv (Ashrei Ha’ish 3:16:12).
The Elef Lamagen on the Matei Efraim (597) also writes that one should be concerned with both opinions and blow again. He adds that although the Magen Avraham and the Mishna Berura do rely somewhat on Rashi, since we are dealing with a safeik d’oraisa, one should definitely be concerned with both opinions and blow over. But this whole discussion is only in regards to the teruah, but if one blew a short tekiah at the end, since according to Rashi, he is done and according to Tosfos it is meaningless, one can just blow over that tekiah.
In Summary
There is a machlokes between Rashi and Tosfos as to what is the correct length of a tekiah and a teruah. According to Rashi, if he blew a short teruah, blowing another teruah may be a hefsek.
Comments and questions are welcome and can be sent to: [email protected].
Rabbi Scheiner
