After Rosh Hashanah Questions & Answers

Question: [3^rd Tishrei, 5783]

How long must each Shever be and what is the law if blower blew a very short first Shever, similar in sounding to a Terua? Practically in our Shul the Baal Tokeia blew almost all the Shevarim blows in the following way: Tu, Tuuu, Tuuu, Tu, Tu? Did we fulfill our obligation?

Answer:

Each of the three Shevers of the Shevarim must initially be a length of exactly three Terumatin [i.e. Tu Tu Tu], and Bedeived be at the very least slightly longer than one Terumatin [i.e. one Terua sound of Tu]. According to your description, the above first Shever was invalid as it was no different than the blowers Terumitin in Terua, and it hence comes out that you only heard two Kosher Shevarim, which does not fulfill your obligation. It is imperative for this reason that every Shofar Blower, irrelevant of his righteousness and knowledge, have a second knowledgeable individual stand next to him and correct him if necessary. It is quite common that the blower makes a mistake and does not pick up on it either due to nervousness, stage fright, or simple habit or inability to properly blow. The above issue which you mentioned with the blower not sounding a proper first Shever is a common mistake that some do out of habit, and they must be corrected, and if they are unable to change their habit then they should politely retire from serving as a Baal Tokeia for the public.

Sources: See regarding the minimum length of a Shever-Lechatchila: 2^nd opinion in Admur 590:6; Riva; Rivam; Rosh; Maggid Mishnah according to Rambam; Final initial ruling of: Admur 590:7 and so rules: Chayeh Adam 142:7; M”B 590:15; Kaf Hachaim 590:25 [for Ashkenazim] See regarding the minimum length of a Shever-Bedieved:1^st Opinion in Admur 590:4; Rashi; first opinion in Michaber 590:3; M”B 590:13 based on Mateh Efraim 590:4 and 11, explained in Shaar HaTziyon 590:8; Final ruling of: Admur 590:7; So rules also M”B in Shaareiy Tziyon 590:4

Question:

May I step out of Shul by the time of Tekias Shofar and blow privately for myself or must I hear it together with the Minyan? [This can come up in a case that one does not trust the blows of the Baal Tokeia, or would like to use the bathroom which will cause him to miss the beginning of the blows, or simply due to the desire to personally fulfill the mitzvah.]

Answer:

There is no obligation for you to hear Shofar together with the Minyan, although it is preferable due to Berov Am Hadras Melech, and is certainly preferable for you to do so if it is still within Sof Zeman Kerias Shema. Thus, while you certainly retain the right to blow for yourself, it is better to hear the blows with the minyan. However, if you don’t trust the blows of the Baal Tokeia to be valid, or initially valid or Mehudar, and you feel you can blow in a better way, then you may certainly do so. Likewise, in the event that you don’t yet feel spiritually prepared enough for the mitzvah and would like to take more time preparing, then you may do so and then blow later on for yourself. Likewise, in the event you need to use the bathroom, then you should first use the bathroom and then blow for yourself.

In all the above cases, the blow should be done inconspicuously, such as in the privacy of your home if you live near the shul, in order not to cause any dispute in the community with people wondering as to why you don’t want to fulfill your obligation with everyone else.

Explanation: We do not find any specific Halacha in the laws of Shofar in which it states that one is encouraged to hear Shofar specifically with a minyan, rather than in private, although it is part of the general rule of Berov Am, in which we encourage, but do not obligate, one to fulfill a Mitzvah in unison rather than alone. The one time that hearing shofar with the minyan is mentioned in the laws of shofar is with regards to that one who blows in private is to delay blowing until after the third hour of the day. Thus, it seems that there is no real issue for one to leave Shul to blow Shofar for himself if he has some reason for why he would prefer this. Nonetheless, there are two matters that still require clarification: 1) In such a case, do the blessings that one said in private count for the blows in Musaf which are only obligated to be blown with the minyan. If not, then it ends up that the blows that one hears later on during Musaf are considered blown without a before blessing, as perhaps only when the blessings were originally said with a minyan, they continue to count for the Musaf blows. In truth, however, it seems that even a private person’s blessing should count for the blows of the minyan. Vetzaruch Iyun. 2) Regarding the mitzvah of shaking Lulav, Admur in his Siddur states that one cannot leave Shul prior to Hallel because of the onlookers, which implies that there is an issue with leaving shul in middle. On the other hand, we explicitly find in the Poskim that after the Torah reading, an individual may leave Shul prior to returning the Torah scrolls to the ark, and only majority of the congregation is restricted from leaving, hence negating any issue.

Sources: See regarding the general rule and advantage of fulfilling a Mitzvah together with the community versus in private: Admur 213:6: Whenever there is a group of people who need to hear Shofar, it is proper for one person to blow on behalf of everyone else, rather than have each person blow individually, in order to fulfill “Berov Am Hadras Melech.” This is not an obligation, although is preferable.; The reason: One cannot obligate someone to fulfill a Mitzvah that is commanded upon him through an emissary, if he is able to fulfill it on his own. [Admur ibid] Vetzaruch Iyun why it is even preferable to fulfill the Mitzvah collectively, if we rule that Mitzvah Bo Yoser Mibishlucho, and seemingly one should be able to choose, without preference, which advantage he desires, just as we ruled in the previous case. However, in truth, the rule of Mitzvah Bo Yoser Mibeeshlucho does not apply in this case, as everyone is fulfilling the Mitzvah himself, as Shomeia Keoneh, it is just that they are doing so through the same object and voice, and hence there is no advantage of Mitzva Bo even if they say the Megillah/Kiddush themselves. Accordingly, one should prefer doing the Mitzvah collectively, even if a Minyan is not present. Now, once a Mitzvah is done collectively, it is a Mitzvah for one person to say the blessing on behalf of all, as Berov Am Hadras Melech, and there is no Mitzvah to increase in blessings, being they are considered like one entity, as stated in previous footnote; See regarding not to blow privately prior to Sof Zeman Kerias Shema: Admur 591:14; M”A 591:9; M”B 591:15; Kaf Hachaim 591:36; See regarding the blessing of Meyushav counting for the blows of Musaf: Admur 592:7; See regarding not leaving Shul before Hallel to shake Lulav in the sukkah: Siddur Admur by Hallel; See regarding not leaving Shul before the Torah is returned to the Ark: Michaber and Rama 149:1; M”A 149:2; M”B 149:2; See P”M 149 A”A 2

Question:

If one walked into the Shul right in the middle of the first Tekiah, is he Yotzei?

Answer:

No, you must hear that set of three blows of Tashrat over again.

Sources: See Admur 587:4 and 588:2 regarding invalidation if began blowing Tekia before Alos and finished after Alos; 590:10; 592:8

Question:

Must one hear both the beginning and end of every sound? For example, can one leave the Shul prior to the end of the Tekia Gedola?

Answer:

You must hear the entire Tekia from beginning to end. Thus you must remain until the end of the Tekia.

Sources: See Admur 587:4 and 588:2 regarding invalidation if began blowing Tekia before Alos and finished after Alos; 590:10; 592:8

Question:

My baby distracted me in middle of one of the Teruos, after 9 Teruot was already made, and I did not pay attention to the end of the Tekia. Am I Yotzei?

Answer:

If indeed you did not pay attention to the end of the Terua, then the implication of the Poskim is that you are not Yotzei that sound, and hence should hear again

Sources: See regarding distractions during the sounds: Admur 587:1; 590:14; 592:8; M”A 592:2; M”E 592:3; M”B 592:10; Kaf Hachaim 592:16 See regarding the obligation for the entire blow to be valid, from beginning to end: Admur 587:4; 588:2; 590:10; 592:8

Question:

On the second night, must we light candles immediately before Kiddush, or can we light as soon as it is dark?

Answer:

If a new fruit will be used for the Shehechiyanu of candle lighting, then it is disputed amongst the Poskim as to whether one is to delay the lighting until right before Kiddush. If the Shehechiyanu of candle lighting is being said over a new garment, or not over anything at all, then there is no need to proximate it to Kiddush.

Sources: See Mateh Efraim 599:9; Alef Hamagen 581:126; Machatzis Hashekel 600:1; Kaf Hachaim 600:6

Question:

May I wet my hair and take a shower on the second night of Yom Tov?

Answer:

Yes, if you are feeling uncomfortable, making sure not to squeeze any hair in the process.

Sources: See https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/taking-a-shower-on-yom-tov/

Question:

May I use a salt grinder on Yom Tov?

Answer:

No.

Sources: See Admur 504:4