Important Point for a Ba’al Tokea – How to Blow Shofar Properly

Sh’vorim-t’rua
1) In the main shofar blowing – before musaf – in the sequence of t’keeya-sh’vorim-t’rua-t’keeya, the sh’vorim-t’rua should be blown in a single breath. The same applies when one blows to enable someone else to fulfill the mitzva (such as at home for family members, or on mivtza’im).However the shofar which is blown by mussaf is done with a breath in between the sh’vorim-t’rua.

2) When blowing sh’vorim-t’rua, it often happens that, instead of blowing the third shever (the third blast of the sh’vorim), the blower blows only a half shever (as is customary to blow after all three sh’vorim), completely leaving out the third shever and going from the second shever straight to the t’rua. In such a case, the mitzva has not been fulfilled, and one must blow that line again.

3) The t’keeya before and after sh’vorim-t’rua must last at least as long as 18 short t’rua blasts. The first and last t’kiya of each line of the t’keeya-sh’vorim-t’keeya and t’keeya-t’rua-t’keeya sequences must last at least as long as nine short t’rua blasts.

4) Each of the three blasts of the sh’vorim must last at least as long as three short t’rua blasts, but not longer than nine short t’rua blasts. If even one of the three sh’vorim blasts lasts longer than nine short t’rua blasts, the mitzva has not been fulfilled and one must blow that line again. In the first place, one should be careful about this also in the t’keeya-sh’vorim-t’rua-t’keeya sequence.

5) Between every t’keeya and the sh’vorim or t’rua after or before it, one must separate them by taking a short breath. In the t’kiya-sh’vorim-t’keeya sequence, it often happens that one goes from the sh’vorim straight into the following t’keeya without taking any breath in between. According to the Alter Rebbe, if one did not take a breath there, he has to repeat that line of t’keeya-sh’vorim-t’keeya.

6) When one who has already fulfilled his obligation of hearing the shofar, and wants to blow to enable someone else to fulfill the mitzva, the person listening says the b’rochos (blessings) before the shofar is blown.

If the person listening is a male and cannot say the b’rochos himself, then the one blowing shofar for him says the b’rochos, and the listener answers “Omein.” One who blows shofar for a woman who cannot say the b’rochos herself, should blow without saying the b’rochos.

WISHING A K’SIVA VACHASIMA TOVA

FOR A VERY GOOD AND SWEET YEAR
BGU”R

FOR THE ENTIRE JEWISH PEOPLE