Unit 1(K): The Meanings of Shofar Rabbinic Interpretations, Part 2 "Rambam in Halachah and Aggadah"

How many shofar sounds is a person obligated to hear on Rosh Hashanah? Nine sounds. Since the word "teru'ah" is stated in the passages about Yoveil and Rosh Hashanah [a total of] three times. But [the Talmud determines] every teru'ah requires a straight blast [what we call teki'ah] both before it and after it....[So the nine sounds we blow are:]

Teki'ah, Teru'ah, Teki'ah;

Teki'ah, Teru'ah, Teki'ah;

Teki'ah, Teru'ah, Teki'ah.

[However] because of the many years that have passed, and the intensity of our exile, doubt arose for us concerning what this teru'ah sound stated in the Torah really is, whether it is sobbing....Or sighing....Or [perhaps] both of them together--the sighing and then the sobbing which tends to come after it--they [together] may be called "teru'ah".... Therefore [due to this doubt], we do all of it [when we blow the shofar].

The sobbing is what we [today] call teru'ah. And the sighing, one sound after another, is what we call three shevarim. So it turns out that the order of shofar sounds is as follows:

The person recites the blessing [over the mitzvah of shofar] and blows:

Teki'ah,

then three Shevarim,

then Teru'ah,

and then Teki'ah.

And he follows this order three times.

Then he blows:

Teki'ah,

then three Shevarim,

and then Teki'ah.

And he follows this order three times.

Then he blows:

Teki'ah,

then Teru'ah,

and then Teki'ah.

And he follows this order three times.

So it turns out that the [total] number of shofar sounds is thirty, in order to eliminate any doubt.

Even though blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a decree of the Torah text [without any purpose for it being given], it contains an implied message, as if it were saying:

"Get up, you who sleep, from your sleep! And you who have dozed off, wake up from your slumber! Search your deeds, return in repentance, and remember your Creator. Those who have forgotten the truth amid the foolishness of worldly pursuits, and who waste their years in meaningless things that cannot [truly] profit nor save you--care for your souls, improve your ways and your actions. Let every one of you abandon their wicked way, or any intention which is not good!"