ASK THE RABBI
ENSURING PROPER FULFILLMENT OF THE MITZVAH OF SHOFAR
Halachic Q&A with Rabbi Levi Y. New
QUESTION:
If I came late to synagogue, and I missed the first and main Shofar sounding, is it ok If I only heard the Shofar when it is sounded during the Musaf service?
ANSWER:
THE BIBLICAL MANDATE
To answer this question, we must first understand the minimum number of blasts one is required to hear in order to fulfil the Mitzvah of hearing the Sound of the Shofar.
From the Torah’s phrasing of the Mitzvah, the Talmud derives two essential components of the Mitzvah. A: That one must hear a broken-up crying-like sound called “Teruah” three times. B: That each Teruah be preceded and followed by a straight-sounding blast known as a “Tekiah”.
Thus, as far as the most basic Torah obligation, one must hear nine blasts: Tekiah Teruah Tekiah, Tekiah Teruah Tekiah, Tekiah Teruah Tekiah.
THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF BLASTS TO ENSURE PROPER FULFILMENT OF THE BIBLICAL MANDATE
The Tekiah that precedes and follows the Teruah, as noted, is a straight blast. The question is, what exactly is the crying-like sound of the Teruah that the Torah requires? The Talmud identifies three customs as to what type of crying we’re supposed to mimic in fulfilment of the biblical Teruah.
- The sound of one groaning - this sound is mimicked in the sound we call Shevarim.
- The sound of one panting/wailing - this sound is mimicked in what we call Teruah.
- Both the Shevarim and the Teruah is what the Torah requires, as often one who cries begins with groans and then proceeds to wail.
In order to ensure that we are indeed fulfilling the Torah’s mandate, we do all three. Each must be sounded three times, and be preceded and followed by a Tekiah.
Namely: Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah (TaShRaT) x3, Tekiah Shevarim Tekiah (TaShaT) x3, Tekiah Teruah Tekiah (TaRaT) x3 for a total 30 blasts (TaShRaT - 4x3, TaShaT - 3x3, TaRaT 3x3).
Visually, that looks like this:
- Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah (TaShRaT) x3
- Tekiah Shevarim Tekiah (TaShaT) x3
- Tekiah Teruah Tekiah (TaRaT) x3
Without hearing the Shofar sounded in each of these three sequence types, each three times, it is doubtful if the Mitzvah was fulfilled, and no blessing can be recited.
The Shofar in the Musaf
Our Sages instituted that in addition to fulfilling the biblical mandate as described, we should hear the Shofar’s sound during the Musaf service.
Considering that by the time we’re at Musaf we will have already fulfilled our biblical obligation, customs vary as to which sequence of blasts is appropriate in fulfilling this Rabbinic enactment.
The prevailing custom is that at each juncture during the service when such a Shofar blast is required, we sound one set of each of the three sequence types above. That is: one TaShRaT, one TaShaT, and one TaRaT. This is then repeated six times throughout the service.
Consecutively and in order
Taking all the above into account, listening to all the Shofar blasts throughout the Musaf would mean that one will have heard (more than) the 30 required blasts described above.
Yet, I’d still caution that one should not rely on these to fulfil their obligation for a number of reasons:
- Out of order: as explained above, each of the three sequence types are to be heard three times. When hearing the blasts in the Musaf, though we hear each sequence (at least) three times, they are not sounded one after the other. This in and of itself might invalidate the Mitzvah according to some opinions.
- Interruptions and pauses: though one who inadvertently made an interruption (of a certain kind) or paused at certain points during the Shofar blasts will have still satisfied their obligation, one should not set themselves up to make such interruptions in the first place.
- The Brocho: the blessing over the Mitzvah to hear the Shofar is not [primarily] recited on the blasts sounded during Musaf, but rather on those sounded earlier in their proper order. In fact, the Alter Rebbe rules that one who made a mistake during the original sounding of the Shofar should not rely on the blasts that will be heard during the Musaf for that would render the blessings as having been recited in vain. Instead, he should first correct the mistake before proceeding to the Musaf.
Conclusion
One should be sure to hear the blessings and the Shofar when it is first sounded in the synagogue. If one missed that opportunity, than there are two options:
- Wait till the end of the service when the 30 required blasts are again sounded in its entirety, consecutively, and in order.
- Attend one of the Shofar in the Parks where the 30 required blasts are again sounded in its entirety, consecutively, and in order. See ShofarMontreal.com/Hampstead for a list of such events.
