[Avodah] Q. What is the minimum amount of shofar blowing that one is required to hear?

[Prof. L. Levine]

>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis


A. In three different places the Torah commands us to blow shofar in the month of Tishrei: Twice in relation to Rosh Hashanah, and once in reference to Yom Kippur (Yovel – Jubilee). The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 34a) connects the three verses and derives that each time the shofar is blown, it must be blown three times. The Gemara also proves that every blowing of the shofar actually consists of three parts: A Tekiah (a long blow), followed by a Teruah (a broken blow), followed by a Tekiah. This makes for a total of nine blows. The mitzvah is to blow the shofar nine times following this pattern.

Tekiah – Teruah – Tekiah
Tekiah – Teruah – Tekiah
Tekiah – Teruah – Tekiah

However, because the Gemara records a disagreement as to the sound of the Teruah, we blow three variations. This amounts to 30 blows.

3X – Tekiah – Shevarim Teruah – Tekiah=(12)
3X – Tekiah – Shevarim– Tekiah=(9)
3X – Tekiah – Teruah – Tekiah=(9)

This is the minimum amount of shofar blows that one should hear to fulfill their obligation. If even this is too much, at the very least one should make sure to hear at least ten blasts. (See Mishnah Berurah 586:22 & 600:7).

Tekiah – Shevarim Teruah – Tekiah=(4)
Tekiah – Shevarim – Tekiah=(3)
Tekiah – Teruah – Tekiah=(3)

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