Newsletter Rosh Hashanah 5787 – 2026

1. Why do we blow the shofar during the month of Elul?
   After the sin of the golden calf, Moshe went up to Mount Sinai to receive the second set of Tablets on Rosh Chodesh Elul. On that day, the Jewish People sounded the shofar to remind themselves to stray no more after idol worship. Also, the sound of the shofar strikes awe into our hearts and inspires us to return to the ways of Torah. (Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan Orach Chaim 581)
2. Where in the written Torah text does it tell us explicitly that the first day of Tisrei is Rosh Hashanah?
   Nowhere. The Torah calls it “a day of shofar blowing.” (This is one of many examples showing how our observance depends on the continuous oral tradition dating back to Mount Sinai). (Bamidbar 29:1)
3. We eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet year. Why do we choose apples above other sweet fruits?
   Isaac blessed Jacob with the words: “The fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which Hashem has blessed…” (Bereishis 27:27). The Talmud identifies this “field” as an apple orchard. (Ta'anis 29b, Biyur Hagra)
4. What two blessings do we say before sounding the shofar?
   “Blessed are You… who has commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar,” and the shehechiyanu blessing. (Orach Chaim 581:2)
5. Which Book of Tanach does the beginning of the Tashlich prayer come from?
   The Book of Micha (7:18-20).
6. What three barren women were “remembered” by Hashem on Rosh Hashanah?
   Sara, Rachel and Chana. On Rosh Hashanah it was decreed that these barren women would bear children. (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 10b)
7. A person's yearly allowance is fixed on Rosh Hashanah, except for three types of expenses. What are they?
   Expenses for Shabbos, Yom Tov, and the cost of one's children's Torah education. (Ba'er Hetaiv Orach Chaim 242:1)
8. We refer to the binding of Isaac in our prayers when we say: “Answer us as You answered Abraham our father on Mount Moriah…” What was Abraham's prayer on Mount Moriah?
   He prayed that Mount Moriah should remain a place of prayer for all future generations (Onkelos 22:14). Also, he prayed that his sacrifice of the ram should be considered as though he had actually sacrificed Isaac. (Rashi 22:13)
9. Why, even in Israel, are there two days of Rosh Hashanah, whereas other festivals in Israel are celebrated for only one day?
   Before our current exile, we did not have a fixed calendar as we do today. Rather, the Supreme Torah Court in Jerusalem determined our calendar on a month to month basis. They did this on the first day of every month, based on witnesses testifying that they had seen the new moon. Therefore, the people outside Israel had insufficient time to find out the exact date in time for the festivals. The “two-day festival” arose to correct this situation. In Israel, however, the people lived close enough to Jerusalem to find out the exact date of all the festivals except Rosh Hashanah. Since Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first day of the month, even those living in Jerusalem sometimes needed to observe it for two days, if the witnesses failed to arrive.
10. What halacha applies to the shehechiyanu blessing on the second night of Rosh Hashanah which does not apply on the second night of any other holiday?
    On the second night of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to wear a new garment or to have a new fruit on the table when saying the shehechiyanu blessing. Thus, the shehechiyanu blessing applies not only to the holiday, but to the new garment or new fruit as well. (This is done in order to accommodate the minority of halachic authorities who rule that no shehechiyanu blessing be said on the second night of Rosh Hashanah.) (Taz 600:2)

תקיעת שופר

מצות עשה מן התורה לשמוע תרועת השופר ביום ראש השנה, שנאמר “יום תרועה יהיה לכם”. ואסור לדבר בין התקיעות, וכל שכן בזמן התקיעות עצמם, ומשעה שבירך “לשמוע קול שופר” (או שיצא ידי חובת הברכה מפי השליח ציבור), לא יוציא הגה מפיו עד שישמע את התקיעות.

נאמר בתורה שלוש פעמים “יום תרועה יהיה לכם”, “זכרון תרועה מקרא קודש”, “והעברת שופר תרועה”. וקיבלו רבותינו “הלכה למשה מסיני”, שכל התקיעות הללו אמורות לגבי ראש השנה, שיש לתקוע בו שלוש פעמים.

וכל תרועה שצריך לתקוע, מורכבת משלוש תקיעות. תקיעה, תרועה ותקיעה. כי כל תרועה, צריך שיהיו לפניה ולאחריה קולות של תקיעה פשוטה. שכך למדו רבותינו מן הפסוקים. נמצאנו למדים, שעלינו לתקוע שלוש תרועות, ולפני ולאחרי כל אחת מהן, יש לתקוע תקיעה פשוטה. ובסך הכל: תקיעה תרועה תקיעה, תקיעה תרועה תקיעה, תקיעה תרועה תקיעה. שהן תשעה קולות של שופר.

התקיעה שנאמרה בתורה, היא קול תקיעה חלקה, ישרה ורצופה. אולם לגבי התרועה שנאמרה בתורה, יש בידינו ספק מה היא. מפני שחלפו הרבה שנים, ונתפזרו עם ישראל בגלות, ותקיעת שופר היא דבר שמתרחש רק פעם אחת בשנה, ולכן אין אנו יודעים איך התרועה נשמעת, האם היא היללה שמיללות הנשים בשעה שמייבבות, והן קולות קצרים ביותר ורצופים (מה שאנו קוראים בזמן הזה “תרועה”), או שהתרועה היא האנחה כדרך שנאנח אדם פעם אחר פעם כאשר דואג לבו מדבר גדול (כלומר, שלוש פעמים תו תו תו, מה שאנו קוראים “שברים”). או אולי, התרועה שנאמרה בתורה היא שניהם יחד, גם קול היללה וגם קול השברים.

ומחמת הספק, אנו עושים הכל. נמצא שסדר התקיעות כך הוא: התוקע מברך, ומיד תוקע “תקיעה” ולאחריה שלושה “שברים” ואחריהם “תרועה” ואחריה “תקיעה”. וחוזר על סדר זה שלוש פעמים. ותוקע “תקיעה”, ואחריה שלושה “שברים” ואחריהם “תקיעה”, וחוזר על סדר זה שלוש פעמים. ותוקע “תקיעה” ואחריה “תרועה” ואחריה “תקיעה”, וחוזר על סדר זה שלוש פעמים. נמצא מנין התקיעות שלושים, כדי להסתלק מן הספק. (ראש השנה לד. והרמב”ם פ”ג ה”א ומרן בש”ע סימן תקצ).

והוא מה שאנו רואים במחזורים: תשר”ת תשר”ת תשר”ת, כלומר תקיעה שברים תרועה תקיעה – שלוש פעמים. ואחר כך, תש”ת תש”ת תש”ת, כלומר תקיעה שברים תקיעה – שלוש פעמים. ואחר כך תר”ת תר”ת תר”ת, והוא תקיעה תרועה תקיעה – שלוש פעמים.

ורמז לדבר “יום תרועה יהיה לכם”, “יהיה” בגימטריא שלושים.

ואלו התקיעות הן חובה מעיקר הדין. ומלבד זה תוקעים עוד שלושים תקיעות בתפילת הלחש של מוסף ועוד שלושים תקיעות בחזרת השליח ציבור של מוסף. ולאחר מכן בסיום התפלה.

Shofar Blowing

There is a positive Torah commandment to hear the Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah, as the Torah states, “A day of blasts shall it be for you.” It is forbidden to speak between the various sets of Shofar blasts and this is certainly the case during the time the Shofar is actually being sounded. As soon as one recites the blessing of “Lishmo’a Kol Shofar” (or has fulfilled one’s obligation by hearing the Shofar blower recite it), one should not utter anything until one hears the Shofar blasts.

How Many Blasts Must One Hear?
According to the Torah, it is sufficient to hear nine Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah. Let us now discuss this further:

The Torah states “blasts” in three different contexts: “A days of blasts shall it be for you”, “A memorial of blasts, a convocation of holiness”, and “And you shall make a proclamation with the Shofar blasts”. Our Sages had an oral tradition from Moshe Rabbeinu that all of these blasts apply to Rosh Hashanah and one must sound three blasts on that day.

Every sounding of Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah must be comprised of three separate blasts: Teki’ah, Teru’ah, Teki’ah. This is because or Sages derived from various verses in the Torah that every Teru’ah sound must be preceded and followed by a Teki’ah sound. Thus, we must blow three Teru’ah blasts, each of them preceded and followed by a Teki’ah blast, amounting to three sets of Teki’ah, Teru’ah, Teki’ah, i.e. nine blasts.

Why Do We Blow Many More than Nine Shofar Blasts?
Based on the above, one should only be required to hear three sets of Teki’ah, Teru’ah, Teki’ah on Rosh Hashanah. However, this is not what is practiced, as we shall now explain:

The Teki’ah described by the Torah refers to a flat, straight, continuous Shofar blast. Nevertheless, a doubt exists regarding what the Torah describes as a “Teru’ah” because many years have passed and the Jewish nation has been scattered in the diaspora as a result of several long exiles. Thus, we are unsure whether Teru’ah refers to a wailing sound that women make when crying, i.e. very short, continuous sounds blown one after another (what we refer to as “Teru’ah” nowadays) or a longer sighing sound one would make again and again when worried about something important (three times, what we would call “Shevarim” nowadays). It is likewise possible that the Torah-prescribed “Teru’ah” actually refers to a combination of both sounds, sighing and wailing.

Because of this is vested in doubt, we blow all of these. Thus, the proper order of blowing the Shofar is, as follows: After reciting the blessing, the Shofar-blower blows a Teki’ah, followed by a Shevarim, immediately followed by a Teru’ah, followed by a Teki’ah. This order is repeated three times. After a brief pause, the blower then blows a Teki’ah, followed by a Shevarim, followed by a Teki’ah. This order is likewise repeated three times. After another short pause, the blower resumes by blowing a Teki’ah, followed by a Teru’ah, followed by a Teki’ah. This order is likewise repeated three times. The final order of Shofar blasts necessary in order to remove all doubt is therefore thirty. (See Rosh Hashanah 34a, Rambam Hilchot Shofar, Chapter 3, Halachot 1-3, and Shulchan Aruch, Chapter 590, Sections 1-2.)

These Shofar blasts are obligatory according to the letter of the law. Besides for these, thirty more blasts are blown during the silent Mussaf Amida prayer, another thirty during the Chazzan’s repetition of Mussaf, and a final ten within the Kaddish following Mussaf.

ראש השנה בשבת

ימי ראש השנה הבאים עלינו לטובה (שנת התשפ”ז), יחולו בימים שבת וראשון. לכן יש לנו כמה פרטים מיוחדים הנוגעים לשנה כזו.

ואמרו חז”ל (הגאון מהר”ם אלשיך דרוש ליום י”ז אלול), שעמדו רבותינו בתקנה זו, כי ידעו שאם יתקנו כן לתועלת עם ישראל, יבוא יום הכיפורים ויגמור את כפרתם של ישראל, באופן שלא יארע להם נזק מחמת אי תקיעת השופר. ואדרבה, ה' יתברך רואה שאנו מקיימים את מצוות רבותינו, ובזכות זה נזכה לשנה טובה ומבורכות.

ובשנה שחל ראש השנה בשבת, נחלקו הפוסקים האם גם כן רשאים להקל בזה, שהרי בסתם יום שבת אסור לבקש בקשות פרטיות בתפילה. ולכן לדעת הגאון רבי יוסף שלום אלישיב זצ”ל (אשרי האיש ח”ג פט”ו) אין להקל בזה. אבל לדעת הגאון רבי שלמה זלמן אוירבך ועוד, יש להקל בזה אפילו בשנה שיחול ראש השנה בשבת. וכן מורים ברוב הישיבות כיום, להקל בזה למי שמרגיש צורך גדול בדבר.

ראש השנה שחל להיות בשבת, אומרים “צדקתך” אחרי תפלת מנחה (ש”ע סימן תקצח, חזון עובדיה עמוד קפה).

וה' יתברך ישמע תפלתינו, וימלא כל משאלות לבנו לטובה לעבודתו. אמן כן יהי רצון.

Rosh Hashanah Which Coincides With Shabbat

This coming year (5787), Rosh Hashanah will fall out this coming Shabbat and Sunday, G-d-willing. Let us discuss several unique laws relevant to this year.

“Bameh Madlikin”
When Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat, Kabbalat Shabbat is recited before Arvit; however, the “Bameh Madlikin” chapter is omitted (Rama Chapter 270, Chazon Ovadia- Yamim Nora’im, page 77, and Chazon Ovadia- Shabbat Part 1, page 332). Although this is subject to a dispute among the Poskim, the prevalent custom is Israel is not to recite “Bameh Madlikin” when Yom Tov coincides with Shabbat. Indeed, Hagaon Harav Amram Aburbia zt”l rules likewise in his Sefer Netivei Am. Nevertheless, those whose custom is to recite “Bameh Madlikin” may continue with their custom as this is the opinion of the Kenesset Ha’Gedolah quoted by the Kaf Ha’Chaim.

“Me’en Sheva”
After the Amida prayer in Arvit, the “Me’en Sheva” blessing is recited as is the case every Shabbat night. One should substitute the words “Ha’el Ha’Kadosh She’en Kamohu” with “Ha’Melech Ha’Kadosh She’en Kamohu.” If one erred, and becomes aware of this in the middle of the blessing, one must return to the words “Magen Avot.” If one has already completed the blessing, one does not repeat it. (ibid. page 83)

“Vatodi’enu”
On the second night of Rosh Hashanah which coincides with Motza’ei Shabbat, one must insert the “Va’Todi’enu” text in the Arvit prayer, as printed in all Machzorim. If one forgets to inset this text, one should not repeat the Amida since one will be reciting Kiddush and Havdala on a cup of wine at home.

Shofar Blowing
There is a positive Torah commandment to hear the Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah. Our Sages taught that any year that Shofar blasts are not sounded at its beginning has the potential of something ominous happening at its end. According to the Kabbalah, there are many deep reasons behind this Mitzvah. Nevertheless, on a year when Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat, our Sages were concerned that one may come to carry the Shofar through a public domain. Since our Sages understood the severity of even one sin committed by the Jewish nation, they decreed that the positive Torah commandment of Shofar blowing should be nullified when Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat (as there is a distinction between passively nullifying a Mitzvah versus actively transgressing a prohibition).

The commentaries taught (see discourse of Rabbeinu Moshe Alshich for 17 Elul) that our Sages understood that if they made this enactment for the benefit of the Jewish nation, Yom Kippur would serve to complete the Jewish nation’s atonement and they would not be harmed as a result of not having blown the Shofar. On the contrary, when Hashem sees how we fulfill the words of our Sages, He will grant us a good and prosperous new year.

“Zichron Teru’ah”
Since we will not actually be blowing the Shofar on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, any reference of “Yom Teru’ah” (a day of Shofar blasts) in the prayer should be substituted with “Zichron Teru’ah” (a commemoration of Shofar blasts). Our Sages (Rosh Hashanah 29b) supported this idea based on several verses. One verse states “Yom Teru’ah” while another states “Zichron Teru’ah.” They explain that one verse refers to Rosh Hashanah which falls out on a weekday and the other refers to Rosh Hashanah which coincides with Shabbat. Even this rabbinic injunction is hinted to in the Torah.

Personal Requests
We have discussed in the past that a disagreement exists regarding whether or not one may insert personal requests in one’s Rosh Hashanah prayers (after the second “Yihyu Le’Ratzon” verse at the end of the Amida). Those who act leniently certainly have on whom to rely, for Hagaon Harav Yisrael Salanter writes that nowadays, since material needs are of extreme importance to people and they are also an important factor in being able to serve Hashem properly, there is room to allow praying for such things on Rosh Hashanah. (See Kochvei Ohr page 262; also alluded to in Bet Yosef, Chapter 584.) Although many great luminaries abstained from doing so and recommended the same to their students, one who wishes to do so because one feels a great need to do so may. Hagaon Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l rules likewise (Halichot Shlomo, Chapter 1, Section 15). We have heard reliable sources quote that Maran zt”l had ruled likewise as well.

This issue becomes compounded this year when Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat, for even on a regular Shabbat, one may not pray for one’s individual needs. Indeed, Hagaon Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l (quoted in Ashrei Ha’ish, Volume 3, Chapter 15) rules stringently in this regard. Nevertheless, according to Hagaon Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l and others, there is room for leniency even when Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat. This seems to be what is instructed in many Yeshivot today for those who feel it necessary.

When Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat, “Tzidkatecha” is recited during Mincha. (Shulchan Aruch, Chapter 598 and Chazon Ovadia page 185)

May Hashem accept all our prayers and fulfill all of our hearts’ wishes for the good, Amen.