Woman Shofar Blower

Question

There is only a small Jewish community and one orthodox shul in the place where I am planning to spend Rosh Hashanah. I just found out that they have a woman blow shofar for them. The rabbi there permits it and says she is the only one there who knows how. What should I do if this has never been what I follow?

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    I am not sure what to tell you. According to the simple interpretation of the Halacha, a woman should not blow the Shofar for men. The issue revolves around the fact that women do not share the same level of obligation to hear the Shofar as men do and, therefore, it is Halachically problematic for a woman to fulfill a man’s Torah obligation to hear the Shofar.

    The source of the Halachic ruling begins with the Mishnah in Tractate Rosh Hashana 29a. The Mishnah teaches that someone who is not obligated in the Mitzvah of Shofar cannot fulfill the obligation of someone who is obligated. Due to the fact that blowing the Shofar is a time-bound Positive Mitzvah, and therefore women are exempt from the obligation of the shofar, a woman should not blow the Shofar for men. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 589:3.)

    Personally, I would suggest that you try to contact the Rabbi of the community, and subtly try to find out whose Halachic ruling he is relying upon.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team