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This year the shofar is blown on the both days of Rosh Hashanah, Tuesday 7  September and Wednesday 8 September, at any time during the day. On Rosh Hashanah we only blow for the Mitzvah, not for practice.

Practicing

Before Rosh Hashanah practice blowing the Shofar. The smaller hole should ideally be at the right side of your mouth and the large opening pointing upwards.

Blow the Shofar like you would play a horn. Your lips should be tightly sealed, try not to blow from a puffed-up cheek. You should only be able to blow out air into the mouthpiece of the Shofar from the hole made by tightening your lips, air should not come out from the sides. You may wish to place your finger over your mouth to block air from exiting there.

Shofar blowing tips and video tutorials are at ChabadHouse.org.au/4869345.

The Shofar Sounds

  • Tekiah – one long blast.
  • Shevarim – 3 medium length sounds.
  • Teruah – a staccato multi-note blast, comprising at least 9 sounds.

Each of the Shofar sounds (i.e. each Tekiah, Shevarim and Teruah) must be blown in one breath. One must breathe between each of the Shofar sounds except between the 3 Shevarim-Teruah’s (in stanza 1, see below) where there should be a slight pause between them but no breath.

The Blessings

If the blower already fulfilled the Mitzvah of Shofar that day, a listener should recite the Brachot.

When blowing for several people, one of the males present may make the Brachot on behalf of the others.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אַ-דֹנָי אֶ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אַשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוׁתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לִשְׁמוֹעַ קוֹל שׁוֹפָר

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אַ-דֹנָי אֶ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֶיָנוּ וְקִיְמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לִזְמַן הַזֶה

Baruch Ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu Melech Haolam Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu Lishmoah Kol Shofar.

Baruch Ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu Melech Haolam Shehecheyanu V’kimanu V’higi-anu Lizman Hazeh.

 

The Order

STANZA 1

Repeat 3 times

Tekiah*

____________________________________

Breath

Shevarim- Teruah

____ ____ ____ pause (no breath) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Breath

Tekiah*

____________________________________

Breath

STANZA 2

Repeat 3 times

Tekiah

_____________

Breath

Shevarim

____ ____ ____

Breath

Tekiah

_____________

Breath

STANZA 3

Repeat 3 times

Tekiah

_____________

Breath

Teruah

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Breath

Tekiah

_____________

Breath

*Sound should last the same length as Shevarim–Teruah combined


In the merit of our blowing Shofar may Hashem blow the giant Shofar of our deliverance and send us Moshiach speedily.