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Why don't we blow Shofar on the day before Rosh Hashanah?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

  

Library » Holidays » Rosh Hashanah » Shofar | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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The entire month of Elul, the Shofar is blown every day (with the exception of Shabbat). However, on the day before Rosh Hashanah the Shofar is not blown. Several reasons are given for this custom:

1. To separate between the Shofar blowings of the month of Elul which are not mandated by the Bible and the blowing of Rosh Hashanah which is Biblically mandated.1

2. To confuse Satan and make him think that Rosh Hashanah is over.2

The second answer obviously needs some clarification. Does Satan lack a calendar? Not here is the place to explain it, however. (If not here, then where? Ask Moses.) See Likutei Sichot vol. 24 p. 222.

Footnotes

  • 1. Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 581:3 Taz 4
  • 2. Shulchan Aruch ibid Magen Avraham 14 and Eliyahu Rabba ibid.
TAGS: Shofar

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Holidays » Rosh Hashanah » A Month of Preparation
Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year. An early autumn two day holiday marking the creation of Adam and Eve. On this day we hear the blasts of the ram's horn and accept G-d's sovereignty upon ourselves and the world. On Rosh Hashanah we pray that G-d should grant us all a sweet New Year.
Shofar
The horn of a Kosher animal. The Shofar is sounded on the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, and is intended to awaken us to repentance. Also blown to signify the conclusion of the Yom Kippur holiday.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Elul
The 6th month on the Jewish calendar, normally corresponding to August-September. This is the month which precedes Tishrei, the month of the High Holidays, and is a month of introspection and repentance.