Excerpt from the “Laws and Customs of Rosh Hashanah” soon to be published!
On which day of Rosh Chodesh does one begin to blow?[1]
Some Poskim[2] rule one is to begin to blow the Shofar from the first day of Rosh Chodesh which is the 30th of Av. Other Poskim[3] rule one is to begin blowing Shofar from the second day of Rosh Chodesh which is the first of Elul. [Practically the Chabad custom is to blow the Shofar for practice on the first day of Rosh Chodesh and from the second day and onwards one begins the regular order of blows until Erev Rosh Hashanah.[4]]
How many sounds are blown and when?[5]
The Chabad custom is that from the second day and onwards one blows nine blows [Tashrat, Tashat, Tarat].[6]
When is the Shofar blown?[7]
The Shofar is blown daily following Shacharis [and the daily recital of Tehillim, with exception to Shabbos in which it is forbidden to sound the Shofar]. [It is customary to blow the Shofar also during children’s gatherings.]
One who makes a mistake in blowing:[8]
If one made a mistake during the blow there is no need to repeat it, as these blows are merely a custom.
[1] Background:
The Rama simply writes that we blow the Shofar from Rosh Chodesh Elul, and does not specify if this is in reference to the first or second day of Rosh Chodesh. The Magen Avraham [581/2] brings two opinions in regards to which day one is to begin to blow. The Levush, Shalah, Mateh Moshe, Maharil and other Poskim rule that one is to begin blowing from the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, as that day begins the count of 40 days before Yom Kippur, on which Moshe ascended the mountain to receive the second Tablets [and on that day the Shofar was blown in order so all the people know the day he ascended, and prevent a similar mistake to that of the golden calf. For this reason the Sages instituted to blow every year on Rosh Chodesh Elul. {Rav Nechmeia Dubravna}] Hence they hold the reason for blowing Shofar is in preparation for Yom Kippur, which we see from Moshe, began on the 1st day of Rosh Chodesh. Others however begin from the 2nd day of Rosh Chodesh, as they hold that the entire concern of blowing Shofar in Elul is that there be exactly 30 days of blowing Shofar, in living with the verse “Blow Shofar [for a] month” [M”A ibid; 28 days in Elul, as on Erev RH we don’t blow, and 2 days of RH for a total of 30-Levushei Serud]. The M”A himself suggests an alternative reason for beginning to blow on the 2nd day of Rosh Chodesh, as in truth Moshe ascended the mountain on the 2nd day of Rosh Chodesh, and that year Elul was a full 30 day month.
The final ruling: The Taz [581/1] rules that we begin blowing from the first day. The M”A ibid rules that many are accustomed to blow from the second day of Rosh Chodesh and one should not move from this custom. [See Kaf Hachaim 581/17 that M”A means to say that each one is to hold to his custom and so writes the P”M 581 A”A 2.] Practically this is the custom today. Nevertheless in a place where there is no accepted custom one should begin blowing from the 1st day of Rosh Chodesh, as this is the main ruling. [Rav Nechemia Dubravna in name of Eliyahu Raba] The Rebbe Rayatz directed that one is to blow the Shofar on the 1st day of Rosh Chodesh as mere practice, while on the 2nd day one begins to blow as normal. This is a compromise between the two opinions brought above. As we do blow on the 1st day of Rosh Chodesh, hence satisfying the opinions which require this, and as well do not blow the common blows, hence satisfying the opinions which don’t require it. [Likkutei Sichos 33 Elul] Many Poskim record both customs and do not arbitrate as to which custom one is to follow. [Chayeh Adam 138/1; M”E 581/7; M”B 581/3; Kaf Hachaim 581/17; See Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 7]
[2] First opinion in M”A ibid in name of Levush; Shlah; Mateh Moshe; Maharil; and so rules Taz ibid; Mishmeres Shalom 41/2
[3] Second opinion in M”A ibid recorded in Chayeh Adam 138/1; M”E 581/7; M”B 581/3
[4] Sefer Haminhagim p. 113 [English edition]; Hayom Yom 30th Menachem Av. This ruling is a directive of the Rebbe Rayatz.
[5] Sefer Haminhagim p. 113 [English Edition]; Custom in Bach 592 based on Aruch; Darkei Chaim Veshalom 690; Likkutei Sichos 2/446; See Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 7
Background:
The Bach 592 writes that based on the opinion of the Aruch [regarding blowing Tashrat-Tarat-Tashat in Musaf-See “The laws of Shofar” chapter 4/5] one is to blow 9 blows in order so people not think that one fulfills the obligation with less than these nine blows. He however concludes that the custom is not to do so possibly due to that they hold like the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam that argues on the Aruch [regarding the blows in Musaf and says one is only to blow Tashrat three times]. In Likkutei Sichos 2/446 the Rebbe states that the ten sounds correspond to the ten soul powers.
Other opinions: The custom of most communities is to only blow Tashrat. [Bach ibid based on Rabbeinu Tam; Kitzur SH”A 128/2; Piskeiy Teshuvos 581/3 ]
[6] The reason: One is to blow a total of nine blows in the order of Tashrat, Tashat, Tarat in order so people do not think that one fulfills the obligation with less than these nine blows. [Bach ibid] This follows the ruling of Admur in 592/5 that the best custom to follow is the custom of Aruch by Musaf and so rules Admur in the Siddur.
[7] Rama ibid.
Blowing at night: The Rama records that there are places that likewise blow the Shofar at night. [Rama 581/1] This is not our custom today. [Aruch Hashulchan 581/1]
[8] 590/19 regarding blows of after Musaf
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