Guide to the Jewish Year

Tishrei

תִּשְׁרֵי

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Kaddish. When the Torah is taken from the Ark, most congregations say the "Thirteen Attributes of Mercy" and a special supplication, except on Shabbat.

22 Torah Reading: first day – Gen. 21: 1–34; second day – Gen. 22:1–24. Five men are called up, seven on Shabbat. Maftir (both days): Num. 29:1–6. Haftara: first day – I Sam. 1:1–2:10; second day – Jer. 31:1–19 [שו״ע או״ח, תקפד: ב; שם, תרא: א].

23 The Haftara is followed by (Yekum Purkan on Shabbat, then) the prayers for the government and the State of Israel. It is customary for the rabbi to deliver a sermon prior to the sounding of the shofar. If there is a Brit Mila, it takes place before the shofar blowing.

LAWS OF SHOFAR BLOWING

24 Hearing the sound of the shofar is an affirmative mitzva from the Torah. A deaf person is exempt from this mitzva, but a blind person is not; consequently, a blind person may blow the shofar for others, but a deaf person may not. Women are exempt from this mitzva, but a woman is permitted to blow shofar for herself and other women. If a man is blowing shofar for one or more women, the women should say the blessings for themselves [שו״ע ורמ״א או״ח, תקפט:ג].

25 The first thirty shofar blasts sounded prior to Musaf represent the minimum number of shofar sounds that one is required to hear [שו״ע או״ח, תקצ:א]. However, it is customary to blow a hundred blasts. The Sephardi custom, which is followed by most congregations, is to blow the shofar during the silent Amida, rather than after the Repetition (see law 34). Some congregations follow the Ashkenazi custom, which is to blow thirty before Musaf, thirty during the Repetition of the Amida and forty more in sets of thirty and ten during the Full Kaddish after Musaf [משנ״ב, תקצב: ד].

26 The person blowing the shofar is required to stand; the congregation is permitted to sit during the first set of shofar sounds, although the custom is to stand [שו״ע או״ח, תקפה: א; משנ״ב, שם: ב].

27 Two blessings are said by the person blowing the shofar: (1) לִשְׁמֹעַ קוֹל שׁוֹפָר, and (2) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ [שו״ע או״ח, תקפה:ב].

28 To prevent distractions while performing the mitzva of hearing the shofar, the congregation is, until completion of the first thirty shofar blasts, forbidden to speak about matters unrelated to shofar and, until completion of the hundredth blast, forbidden to speak about matters unrelated to prayer [שו״ע או״ח, תקצב:ג].

29 The rabbis ruled that we do not blow the shofar when Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat [ראש השנה, כט; שו״ע או״ח, תקפח: ה].

30 After the shofar is blown, Ashrei is said and the Torah scrolls are returned to the Ark. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur for Musaf says a special prefatory prayer, הִנְנִי הֶעָנִי מִמַּעַשׂ ("Here am I, poor of deeds"), and Half Kaddish.

31 Musaf for Rosh HaShana: Unique among the Amidot said on Shabbat and Yom Tov, the Musaf for Rosh HaShana comprises nine blessings, rather than seven. Instead of one blessing devoted to the Festival, there are three extended blessings dedicated to three separate Rosh HaShana themes: Kingship, Remembrance and the Shofar [שו״ע או״ח, תקצא: א; שם: ד]. Upon completion by the congregation of each of the three middle blessings of the Amida, ten shofar blasts are sounded. If Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat, the shofar is not sounded.

32 Before Kedusha, piyutim are said, culminating with וּנְתַנֶּה תֹּקֶף.

33 The fourth blessing in the Repetition of the Amida contains Aleinu. The Ark is opened, and the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur (and, in most communities, the entire congregation) kneels in prostration at the words וַאֲנַחְנוּ כּוֹרְעִים. Because one is forbidden to touch one's head against the bare stone floor when kneeling, one should place a piece of cloth or paper between one's head and the floor [רמ״א או״ח, קלא:ח].

34 Upon completion by the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur of each of the three middle blessings of the Amida, ten shofar blasts are sounded, and the congregation says הַיּוֹם הֲרַת עוֹלָם and אָרֶשֶׁת שְׂפָתֵינוּ. If Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat, the shofar is not sounded and אָרֶשֶׁת שְׂפָתֵינוּ is omitted. The Kohanim say Birkat Kohanim.

35 After Musaf, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says Full Kaddish. Ten more shofar blasts are sounded. Some congregations pause during the Full Kaddish to blow the ten blasts; others sound the ten after the completion of the Full Kaddish. The service continues with Ein Keloheinu and the conclusion of the service as for Shabbat.

36 Minḥa: for Shabbat and Yom Tov. When Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat, the beginning of Ha'azinu is read. The Amida is identical to that said during Shaḥarit, except that it is preceded by the verse beginning כִּי שֵׁם יהוה אֶקְרָא (Deut. 32:3). After the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur repeats the Amida, the congregation says Avinu Malkenu, except when Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat.

37 After Minḥa, it is customary to say Tashlikh (page 935) beside a source of running water. If the first day of Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat, Tashlikh is said on the second day [רמ״א או״ח, תקפג: ב] or on any weekday prior to Yom Kippur.

רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה – יוֹם שֵׁנִי

Rosh HaShana – Second Day (2nd of Tishrei)

38 Eve of second day: Candle lighting and preparations for the meal must be