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...
Chanukah- Lighting the Menorah on Friday Night
Chanukah- Starting A Melacaha, Beginning A Meal, and Sitting To Learn Are All Forbidden Within A Half Hour Of Lighting
Chanukah- Should A Wife Light The Menorah At The Proper Time Rather Than Waiting For The Husband Who Will Come Home Later
Chanukah- Should One Say Mezonot On A Fried Jelly Donut That Is Eaten For Dessert
Chanukah- Should We Light The Menorah Before or After The Berachot and Is It Permissible To Light The Menorah At A Chanukah Party
Chanukah- Is A Student Required To Light The Menorah If Dorming Away At School
Chanukah- If One Forgets Al Hanisim in Birkat Hamazon
Chanukah- The Requirement of Lighting Falls Upon The House
Chanukah- Lighting An Extra Candle On Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Chanukah- Why Do We Not Insert A Prayer Of Chanukah In Me’en Shalosh
Chanukah- Can Mourners Say Hallel on Chanukah or Rosh Chodesh, and Is It Permissible To Have An Arayat on Chanukah
Chanukah- Where Should The Menorah Be Placed
Chanukah- Are Ladies Required To Say The Hallel on Chanukah
Chanukah- Should One Recite Again SheAsa Nissim at Menorah Lighting In Shul After Doing So At Home
Chanukah- Should One Recite Again Shehechiyanu at Menorah Lighting In Shul After Doing So At Home
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found