Considering the current situation, many people will be hearing the shofar at home, whether because they are at high risk and it is not safe leaving their home or because they are in quarantine etc. It is advised that women refrain to come to Shul and listen to the Shofar later. The following Halachos address specifically this year’s situation: When to Blow the Shofar 1. After the first three hours of the day: Initially, the obligation for an individual to hear the Shofar should be after the first three hours of the day, in order to coincide with the blowing of their Minyan, ( ב”סק ח”תקפ’ סי ב”מ .(Even for those who will unfortunately Daven home, it is important to Daven at the same time as their usual Minyan. However, nowadays there are many Minyanim in every city, and one should start at the same time than a Minyan )ט” ס’ צ’ סי ע”שו.( 2. In hindsight, if one is only able to hear Shofar prior to that time for whatever reason, he may do so from daybreak. If one has no possibility to hear the Shofar in the morning, he may hear it until Sunset, ‘סי ב”מ) .ק”ס סקנ”א( 3. Twilight: Initially, the Halacha requires one to hear the Shofar within the times set above. Thus, in case of duress, one may hear them until prior to the appearance of three stars. However, the Beracha will not be recited from after sunset. 4. Proper order: One who will daven home and will be blowing the Shofar for himself, should enquire from his Rabbi, prior to Rosh Hashana, to instruct him the proper way to blow and the essential Halochos of blowing. There are many Minhagim how to end the sounds, and each one should follow his customs. 5. Different Customs: If one cannot blow and has a Tokea [Blower] visiting him to blow. From outset, he should request from the Tokea to blow according to his [the listener] custom. If the blower is not experienced to blow according to that custom, it is best to ask the blower to blow according to his own custom.

6. Blowing during Shmoneh Esrei: An individual davening at home should not blow the Shofar during Musaf even if his usual Minyan does ( ב” ס ב”תקצ ע” שו ,(as only a Minyan can blow during Shmoneh .(מ”ב סק”ו) ,Esrei 7. Number of Blasts: While Davening with a Minyan it is customary to blow 100 blasts ( ב”מ , א”מג, ה”של ב”סק ו”תקפ .(For an individual the custom is to hear 30 blasts as follows: 3 Tekia-Shevarim-Teruah-Tekia, .( שו”ע הרב ס”ז, משמעות מ”ב סק” ז) Tekia-Teruah-Tekia 3, Tekia-Shevarim-Tekia 3 8. Two breaths. The Poskim argue whether the Shevarim-Teruah should be blown in one breath or two (ד” ס צ” תק ע”שו .(The custom is as follows: if the blowing is done for a man, we strive to satisfy both opinions and blow some Tekia-Shevarim-Teruah-Tekia with one breath and some with two (,שם ע” שו .( Thus, for a woman, there is need to be so stringent and it can be blown either way. Who Says the Beracha? 9. For a Man: If a person blows for himself, he recites the Beracha prior to blowing as customary. If someone comes to blow for him, who has already heard the blasts, the listener should recite the Blessings. If he is not alone and there are 10 men, then the blower should recite the Blessings, (ה” סק ה”תקפ ב”מ .( Still, if the blower has the custom to recite the Blessings one should not protest and should let him recite .(שם) them 10. For a Woman: If one is blowing shofar for women, it is preferable for him not to recite the Blessings. Preferably, the women should recite the Blessings themselves. This is true according to the Ashkenaz custom as for Sefaradim, the Mechaber holds that women do not say any of the Brochos themselves .(שו”ע ורמ”א סי’ תקפ”ט ס” ז) ,either

כתיבה וחתימה טובה – Ksiva Vachasima Tova

By Rabbi Shimon Fridmann – Din Torah Of North Miami Beach

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