DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 616 KB)
Rosh Hashanah – Are Women Required to Hear the Shofar?

Women are exempt from the obligation of Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, in accordance with the general rule exempting women from "Misvot Aseh She’ha’zman Gerama" – Misvot that apply only at a particular time. As the obligation of Shofar applies only on Rosh Hashanah, women are exempt from this Misva.

Nevertheless, if a woman comes to the synagogue and hears the sounding of the Shofar, she is credited with a Misva. Although she has no obligation to hear the Shofar, she is considered as having performed a Misva if she chooses to do so. And thus a man who has already fulfilled the Misva is allowed to blow the Shofar again for his wife or another woman. This is not considered a violation of Yom Tob by producing sounds, because the woman fulfills a Misva by hearing the Shofar, and thus it is permissible to blow the Shofar for her just as it is permissible to blow the Shofar for men. In such a case, however, no Beracha is recited over the Misva, neither by the woman nor by the man blowing the Shofar. Women who perform a Misva from which they are exempt – such as sitting in the Sukka or taking the Lulab – do not recite a Beracha over the Misva, because the Beracha is only for those who are commanded to perform the Misva (as indicated by the text of the Beracha – "Asher Kideshanu Ba’misvotav"). Therefore, when one blows the Shofar for a woman on Rosh Hashanah, no Beracha is recited.

One may carry a Shofar through a public domain on Rosh Hashanah for the purpose of blowing the Shofar for a woman. Carrying on Yom Tob through a public domain is permitted "Le’srech Ha’yom" – when this is needed for the Yom Tob – and carrying a Shofar so it can be blown for women is considered a need that allows carrying. Although women are exempt, they nevertheless fulfill a Misva by hearing the Shofar, as discussed, and therefore carrying the Shofar to a woman’s home so she can hear the blowing is allowed. By the same token, it is permissible to carry the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah in a public domain to blow it for a child who has reached the age of Hinuch (training in Misvot), as this, too, is considered a legitimate need of Yom Tob.

Summary: Women are exempt from the Misva of Shofar, but they fulfill a Misva if they hear it blown. A man may blow the Shofar for a woman on Rosh Hashanah, even if he had already fulfilled the Misva, and he may even carry the Shofar through a public domain on Yom Tob for this purpose. However, neither he nor the woman recites a Beracha over the Misva, since she is not obligated in the Misva.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Does Someone Count for a Minyan If He is in a Different Room?
Is There an Obligation to Live in Eretz Yisrael?
May a Woman Return Home From the Hospital on Shabbat After a “False Alarm”?
Revoking Rabbinic Edicts of Past Generations
Accompanying a Woman in Labor to the Hospital on Shabbat
May a Husband be Present During His Wife’s Labor and Delivery?
May Expectant Parents Find Out the Fetus’ Gender?
Is it Permissible to Pray for the Death of a Terminally Ill Patient Who is Suffering?
Using the Mother’s Name When Praying for a Sick Patient
“Opening One’s Mouth to the Satan”
Does One Recite Tefilat Ha’derech Before a Short Flight?
Customs to Observe After Experiencing a Miracle
The Beracha Recited Upon Entering a Cemetery
The Completion of the 13th Daf Yomi Cycle
May a Synagogue Have a Menorah With Seven Branches?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found