How Many Blasts One Should Hear
- Three Teruos: Chazal learned from the fact that the Torah uses the word ‘Teruah’ three times in the context of Tishrei (twice relating to Rosh Hashana and once to Yom Kippur of Yovel) that the Torah obligation is to hear three teruos on Rosh Hashana.
- Tekiah Before and After Teruah: They further learnt (from the phrase והעברת…תרועה…תעבירו)) that each teruah must be preceded and succeeded by a Tekiah. In total, therefore, the Torah obligation is to hear 9 notes on Rosh Hashana, in the form of three sets of tekiah-teruah-tekiah (SA 590:1, MB 1-4).
- Defining a Teruah: Chazal understood from Targum Onkelos that the word ‘Teruah’ relates to crying, but considered that there were three different types of crying that ‘Teruah’ could be referring to – a longer moaning sound, which we call a ‘shevarim’, a shorter wailing sound, which we call a ‘teruah’, or a cry that starts with a longer moaning sound but then breaks down into a shorter wailing sound, which we call a ‘shevarim-teruah’. Given this doubt as to the definition of the ‘teruah’ in the Torah, we blow in a manner which covers all three options – we do three sets of each of tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekia, tekia-shevarim-tekia and tekia-terua-tekia, giving a total of 30 notes (counting a ‘shevarim-teruah’ as two notes).
- Torah and Rabbinic Obligation: Chazal initially instituted that the Torah-mandated Shofar blasts be blown in conjunction with Mussaf (called the ‘tekios d’meumad’) and then added a Rabbinic requirement to hear 30 notes before Mussaf (called the ‘tekios d’meyushav’). The custom later developed to blow further blasts at the conclusion of Mussaf.
- Whilst there have been different customs over the centuries as to how to implement these, the widespread practice nowadays is for 30 blasts to be blown before Mussaf, 30 in conjunction with Mussaf (many do so during Chazaras haShatz, whilst some do so during the silent Amidah) and then a further 40 after Mussaf (there are different customs as to exactly which point these are blown) (SA 585:2, 590:2, 592:1, MB4, SA 596:1, MB2).
The Practical Definition of the Tekiah, Shevarim and Teruah
- Shulchan Aruch records two different definitions of the notes as we blow them, based on the Rishonim:
- Approach 1: A teruah is three short sounds. A shevarim is made up of three sounds, with each sound being the length of two of the short sounds that comprise the teruah.
- Approach 2: A teruah is nine short sounds. A shevarim is made up of three sounds, with each sound being the length of three of the short sounds that comprise the teruah.
- According to both approaches above, the minimum length of a single tekiah is the length of the note that it surrounds (eg in approach 1, each tekiah surrounding a teruah needs to be at least the length of three short sounds, and the ones surrounding a shevarim the length of six short sounds). A tekiah may, however, be made longer than this and likewise the ba’al tokeia may blow more than three sounds for a shevarim or three/nine sounds for a teruah, though some are strict not to add any sounds to the shevarim.
- Ruling: Ideally we follow approach 2 but after the fact, it suffices if approach 1 was followed (this is particularly common if a ba’al tokeia does not blow nine teruos, or blows his tekios a little short). (SA 590:3, MB11-12, SHT 8, BHL D”H Umi)
Breaths Whilst Blowing
- Individual blasts: Any individual shevarim or teruah must be blown in one breath; if done in two breaths most opinions holds that the note is invalid. (SA 590:4, MB 16)
- Shevarim-Teruah: When blowing a shevarim-teruah, there is a dispute whether it should be done in one breath or whether the ba’al tokeia should take a breath in between the two notes.
- Therefore, the widespread practice is to blow the shevarim-teruahs in the initial thirty blasts in one breath and the following thirty blasts blown during the Mussaf Amidah in two breaths, though the reverse order could also be done (so long as thirty blasts are blown during Mussaf, as is our practice).
- However, in a place where the practice is to do one breath throughout, or two breaths throughout, they should not change their practice (SA 590:4, MB 19-20, SHT18).
- Between notes: Aside from the above discussion around the shevarim-teruah, the ba’al tokeia should ideally take a breath between each note (eg between a tekiah and shevarim) though if he did not do so, the notes remain valid (SA 590:5, MB 22).
Significant Details – Consult a Rav
- There are a significant number of details and nuances to these halachos, such as how to respond if a note was made too long or too short, either intentionally or due the ba’al tokeia running out of breath, or if the ba’al tokeia blew the wrong note. It is beyond the scope of our discussion to detail these here; as mentioned previously it is imperative that the ba’al tokeia and ba’al makre are well versed in these halachos (or to at least have a Rav who knows these halachos overseeing tekias shofar) to know how to blow in an ideal fashion and to respond to mistakes; our treatment here is merely an overview and is not sufficient to be used as a guide in this area. The details of these halachos can be found in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 590 and the Mishna Berura there.
