The Rabbinic Mind: Hearing the Shofar

We will begin this series by jumping into the technicalities of the nature and lengths of the sounds of the shofar, and what differences of opinion we can see in the words of the tannaim and amoraim.

To this end, we will learn the last mishna in Masechet Rosh Hashanah, together with the relevant segments of the gemara that discuss the mishnah and therefore the relative lengths of the different shofar sounds.

I have posted here the basic sources that we will study in this session.

In this session, we will complete our study from the gemara in Masechet Rosh Hashanah about how the different shofar sounds (kolot) are derived.

We will then discuss suggested meanings of the different kolot.

I have posted here sources for this session.

This session will begin as promised with the words of the של”ה explaining the meaning behind the kolot.

Then we will move to a new topic: we will learn some of the requirements of the mitzvah of hearing the shofar, with the emphasis on “hearing”. What exactly does “hearing” mean from the point of view of halacha, and what is necessary for us to hear to correctly perform this mitzvah?

For your convenience I have posted here sources that we will use.

In this last session of this 4 part series, we will finish the topic of the details of hearing the sound by reviewing the practical halacha about kavana, then learning the sugya that discusses the shofar sound quality.

We will then learn the Shulhan Aruch about how we actually perform the mitzva in synagogue, with the comments of the Rama and some explanations of the Mishna Berurah.

Finally, we will conclude this series with statements in the gemara Rosh Hashana about the mitzvah of shofar and its overall significance.

I have posted here the sources for your convenience.