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>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis</div>
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<p>A. In three different places the Torah commands us to blow <em>shofar</em> in the month of
<em>Tishrei</em>: Twice in relation to Rosh Hashanah, and once in reference to Yom Kippur (<em>Yovel</em> Jubilee). The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 34a) connects the three verses and derives that each time the
<em>shofar</em> is blown, it must be blown three times. The Gemara also proves that every blowing of the
<em>shofar</em> actually consists of three parts: A <em>Tekiah</em> (a long blow), followed by a
<em>Teruah</em> (a broken blow), followed by a <em>Tekiah</em>. This makes for a total of nine blows. The
<em>mitzvah</em> is to blow the <em>shofar</em> nine times following this pattern.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><em>Tekiah Teruah Tekiah</em><br>
<em>Tekiah Teruah Tekiah</em><br>
<em>Tekiah Teruah Tekiah</em></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">However, because the Gemara records a disagreement as to the sound of the
<em>Teruah</em>, we blow three variations. This amounts to 30 blows.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">3X <em>Tekiah Shevarim Teruah Tekiah</em>=(12)<br>
3X <em>Tekiah Shevarim Tekiah</em>=(9)<br>
3X <em>Tekiah Teruah Tekiah</em>=(9)</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">This is the minimum amount of <em>shofar</em> 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).</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><em>Tekiah Shevarim Teruah Tekiah</em>=(4)<br>
<em>Tekiah Shevarim Tekiah</em>=(3)<br>
<em>Tekiah Teruah Tekiah</em>=(3)</p>
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