Shofar & Teshuva

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּה־אַ֔יִל אַחַ֕ר נֶאֱחַ֥ז בַּסְּבַ֖ךְ בְּקַרְנָ֑יו וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אַבְרָהָם֙ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־הָאַ֔יִל וַיַּעֲלֵ֥הוּ לְעֹלָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת בְּנֽוֹ׃

Genesis 22:13

And Avraham lifted up his eyes, and looked and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Avraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in place of his son.

ראש השנה ט״ז א:ט״ז

אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: לָמָה תּוֹקְעִין בְּשׁוֹפָר שֶׁל אַיִל? אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: תִּקְעוּ לְפָנַי בְּשׁוֹפָר שֶׁל אַיִל, כְּדֵי שֶׁאֶזְכּוֹר לָכֶם עֲקֵידַת יִצְחָק בֶּן אַבְרָהָם, וּמַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם כְּאִילּוּ עֲקַדְתֶּם עַצְמְכֶם לְפָנַי.

Rosh Hashanah 16a:16

Similarly, Rabbi Abbahu said: Why does one sound a blast with a shofar made from a ram’s horn on Rosh HaShana? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Sound a blast before Me with a shofar made from a ram’s horn, so that I will remember for you the binding of Isaac, son of Abraham, in whose stead a ram was sacrificed, and I will ascribe it to you as if you had bound yourselves before Me.

ויקרא כ״ג:כ״ד

דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃

Leviticus 23:24

Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts.

ראש השנה ט״ז א:י״ז

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: לָמָּה תּוֹקְעִין בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה? לָמָּה תּוֹקְעִין?! רַחֲמָנָא אָמַר תִּקְעוּ! אֶלָּא: לָמָּה מְרִיעִין? מְרִיעִין?! רַחֲמָנָא אָמַר ״זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה״! אֶלָּא: לָמָּה תּוֹקְעִין וּמְרִיעִין כְּשֶׁהֵן יוֹשְׁבִין,

Rosh Hashanah 16a:17

Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Why does one sound [tokin] a blast on Rosh HaShana? The Gemara is astonished by the question: Why do we sound a blast? The Merciful One states in the verse: “Sound [tiku] a shofar” (Psalms 81:4). Rather, the question is: Why does one sound a staccato series of shofar blasts [terua] in addition to a long continuous shofar blast [tekia]? The Gemara is still surprised by the question: Sound a terua? The Merciful One states: “In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns [terua]” (Leviticus 23:24). Rather, Rabbi Yitzḥak asked about the common practice in Jewish communities, which is not explicitly stated in the Torah: Why does one sound a long, continuous shofar blast [tekia] and then a staccato series of shofar blasts [terua] while the congregation is still sitting before the silent prayer,

ראש השנה ט״ז ב:א׳

וְתוֹקְעִין וּמְרִיעִין כְּשֶׁהֵן עוֹמְדִין — כְּדֵי לְעַרְבֵּב הַשָּׂטָן.

Rosh Hashanah 16b:1

and then sound again a tekia and a terua while they are standing in the Amida prayer? He answers: In order to confuse the Satan, for this double blowing of the shofar demonstrates Israel’s love for the mitzva, and this will confuse Satan when he brings his accusations against Israel before the heavenly court, and the Jewish people will receive a favorable judgment.

רש"י על ראש השנה ט״ז ב:א׳:א׳

כדי לערבב - שלא ישטין כשישמע ישראל מחבבין את המצות מסתתמין דבריו:

Rashi on Rosh Hashanah 16b:1:1

In order to confuse – so that he (the Satan) will not prosecute. When he hears that the people of Israel are cherishing the mitzvot, his words are silenced.

ספר הזהר, אמור ל״ח:ר״ד

אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, כְּתִיב זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה, זִכָּרוֹן עַבְדֵּינָן, לְכַוְּונָא לִבָּא וּרְעוּתָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדִּין זִכָּרוֹן לְתַתָּא, בְּמָה. בְּעוֹבָדָא, בְּגִין דְּיִתְּעַר מִלָּה כְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא לְעֵילָּא.

Zohar, Emor 38:204

Rabbi Yehudah said: It is written "a remembrance of the teru’ah." We perform the remembrance to direct the heart and will. Israel performs a remembrance below, through action, in order to awaken the matter in the same manner above.

ספר הזהר, אמור ל״ח:ר״ה

אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, כְּתִיב (תהילים פ״א:ד׳) בַּכֶּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ דְּאִתְכַּסְיָא בֵּיהּ סִיהֲרָא. וְהֵיךְ אִתְכַּסְיָא. אֶלָּא, כַּד קַיְּימָא עִיבָא, וְשִׁמְּשָׁא לָא נָהִיר, כְּדֵין סִיהֲרָא אִתְכַּסְיָא, וְלָא נָהִיר. וְעַל דָּא, מִקַּמֵּי עִיבָא שִׁמְשָׁא לָא נָהִיר, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן סִיהֲרָא דְּאִתְכַּסְּיָא וְלָא נְהִירָא. וְעַל דָּא בַּכֶּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ, בְּהֵ"א, דְּאִתְכַּסְיָא סִיהֲרָא. וּבְמָה נָהִיר. כֹּלָּא בְּתִיּוּבְתָּא, וּבְקָל שׁוֹפָרָא, דִּכְתִּיב, (תהילים פ״ט:ט״ז) אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יוֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה כְּדֵין יְיָ' בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יְהַלֵּכוּן.

Zohar, Emor 38:205

Rabbi Elazar said: It is written (Psalms 81:4), "on the concealed [day] of our festival," for the moon is concealed on that day. And how is it concealed? Rather, when the clouds rise and the sun does not shine, then the moon is covered and does not shine. And because of this, before the clouds rise, the sun does not shine, all the more so the moon, which is covered and does not give light. Therefore, "on the concealed [day] of our festival," with the letter *hei*, because the moon is hidden. And with what does it shine? It is all through repentance and the sound of the shofar, as it is written (Psalms 89:16), "Happy is the people who know the sound of the *teru’ah*, Hashem, in the light of Your countenance they shall walk."

ספר הזהר, אמור ל״ח:קצ״ג

וְכַד אִתְּעַר הַאי שׁוֹפָר וְכַד בְּנֵי נָשָׁא תַּיְיבִין מֵחֲטָאֵיהוֹן, בַּעְיָין לְנַגְדָּא קוֹל שׁוֹפָר מִתַּתָּא, וְהַהוּא קָלָא סָלִיק לְעֵילָּא, כְּדֵין אִתְּעַר שׁוֹפָרָא אָחֳרָא עִלָּאָה, וְאִתְּעַר רַחֲמֵי, וְאִסְתַּלָּק דִּינָא. וּבָעֵינָן לְאַחֲזָאָה עוֹבָדָא בְּשׁוֹפָר, לְאִתְּעָרָא שׁוֹפָרָא אָחֳרָא, וּלְאַפָּקָא בְּהַאי שׁוֹפָר לְתַתָּא, אִינּוּן קַלֵי, לְאַחֲזָאָה דְּכָל אִינּוּן קָלִין דִּלְעֵילָּא, דִּכְלִילָן כֻּלְּהוּ בְּהַהוּא שׁוֹפָר עִלָּאָה, יִתְּעֲרוּן לְנָפְקָא.

Zohar, Emor 38:193

And when this shofar is awakened and people repent from their sins, they need to sound the shofar from below, and that sound rises above. Then another upper shofar is awakened, mercy is aroused, and judgment is removed. We need to perform the act of blowing the shofar in order to awaken that other shofar, and to bring forth, through this shofar below, those sounds, so that all the sounds above—which are included in that upper shofar—are awakened to emerge.

ספר הזהר, אמור ל״ח:קצ״ד

וּבְהָנֵי קָלִין דִּלְתַתָּא, יָהֲבִין יִשְׂרָאֵל חֵילָא (לרחמי מתתא ואתער שופר גדול) לְעֵילָּא, וְעַל דָּא בָּעֵינָן לְזַמְּנָא שׁוֹפָר בְּיוֹמָא דָּא, וּלְסַדְּרָא קָלִין, לְכַוְּונָא בֵּיהּ בְּגִין לְאַתְעֲרָא שׁוֹפָר אָחֳרָא, דְּבֵיהּ כְּלִילָן קַלֵי לְעֵילָּא. (ולסדרא קלין בשופר).

Zohar, Emor 38:194

And through these sounds below, Israel gives strength (to arouse mercy from below and awaken the great shofar) above. Therefore, we need to sound the shofar on this day, to arrange the sounds, and to focus on it in order to awaken that other shofar, in which all the sounds above are included. (And to arrange the sounds with the shofar).

ספר הזהר, אמור ל״ח:קצ״ו

אַדְּהָכִי, סַלְּקָא תִּנְיָינָא, תַּקִּיפָא (לחברא) לְתַּבְרָא תּוּקְפֵי רְגִיזִין. וְדָא סִדְרָא תִּנְיָינָא, הַהוּא קָלָא תְּבִירָא בְּתוּקְפוֹי. וּכְדֵין סַלְּקָא, וְכָל דִּינִין דְּאִתְּעָרוּן (ס"א דאתערען) קָמֵיהּ אִתְּבָּרוּ, עַד דְּסָלִיק לְאַתְרֵיהּ דְּיִצְחָק. כֵּיוָן דְּיִצְחָק אִתְּעַר, וְחָמֵי לְאַבְרָהָם מְתַקֵּן לְכוּרְסְיָיא לְקַיְּימָא קַמֵּיהּ, כְּדֵין אִתְכַּפְיָא, וְתָבַר תּוּקְפָּא קַשְׁיָא. וּבְהַאי, בָּעֵי מַאן דְּתָקַע, לְכַוְּונָא לִבָּא וּרְעוּתָא, בְּגִין לְתַּבְרָא חֵילָא וְתּוּקְפָּא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, (תהילים פ״ט:ט״ז) אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יוֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה, יוֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה וַדַּאי.

Zohar, Emor 38:196

Meanwhile, the second series ascends, powerful, to break the force of harsh anger. This is the second order (of shofar blasts), where that sound breaks with its strength. Then it ascends, and all judgments that were aroused before it are shattered, until it reaches the place of Yitzchak (Isaac). When Yitzchak is awakened and sees Abraham preparing the throne to stand before him, then the harsh strength is subdued and broken. At this point, the one who is blowing (the shofar) must direct his heart and will in order to break the force and strength of harsh judgment. This is what is written: "Happy is the people who know the sound of the *teru’ah*," truly know the *teru’ah*.

ראש השנה ל״ג ב:ה׳

מַתְנִי׳ סֵדֶר תְּקִיעוֹת: שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁל שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁלֹשׁ. שִׁיעוּר תְּקִיעָה כְּשָׁלֹשׁ תְּרוּעוֹת, שִׁיעוּר תְּרוּעָה כְּשָׁלֹשׁ יְבָבוֹת. תָּקַע בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה וּמָשַׁךְ בַּשְּׁנִיָּה כִּשְׁתַּיִם — אֵין בְּיָדוֹ אֶלָּא אַחַת.

Rosh Hashanah 33b:5

MISHNA: The order of the blasts is three sets of three blasts each, which are: Tekia, terua, and tekia. The length of a tekia is equal to the length of three teruot, and the length of a terua is equal to the length of three whimpers. If one sounded the first tekia of the initial series of tekia, terua, tekia, and then extended the second tekia of that series to the length of two tekiot, so that it should count as both the second tekia of the first set and the first tekia of the second set, he has in his hand the fulfillment of only one tekia, and he must begin the second set with a new tekia.

ראש השנה ל״ג ב:ט׳

שִׁיעוּר תְּרוּעָה כִּשְׁלֹשׁ יְבָבוֹת. וְהָתַנְיָא: שִׁיעוּר תְּרוּעָה כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה שְׁבָרִים!

Rosh Hashanah 33b:9

§ The mishna continues. The length of a terua is equal to the length of three whimpers. The Gemara asks: Isn’t it taught in a baraita that the length of a terua is equal to the length of three shevarim, i.e., broken blasts, which presumably are longer than whimpers?

ראש השנה ל״ד א:ד׳

הָא כֵּיצַד? שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁהֵן תֵּשַׁע. שִׁיעוּר תְּקִיעָה כִּתְרוּעָה, שִׁיעוּר תְּרוּעָה כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה שְׁבָרִים.

Rosh Hashanah 34a:4

How so? How does one actually perform the sounding of the shofar? One sounds three sets of three blasts each, which altogether are nine separate blasts. The length of a tekia is equal to the length of a terua, and the length of a terua is equal to the length of three shevarim.