OU TORAH Behar 5778 By Rav Moshe Twersky, HY"D
When it comes to the mitzvah of blowing shofar on Rosh Ha’Shana, the Rambam (Hilchos Shofar 1:1,3) explicitly says that the mitzvah is to hear the shofar blasts, as opposed to the act of blowing, and that is why, for example, one has fulfilled the mitzvah (b’dieved) if he heard the blasts of a stolen shofar. In his responsa, the Rambam underscores this point by elaborating that the relationship between the act of blowing the shofar versus hearing the shofar blasts is akin to the relationship between building a sukkah and sitting in the sukkah. This is all insofar as the mitzvah of shofar on Rosh Ha’Shana is concerned. When it comes to the mitzvah of blowing shofar on Yom Kippur of the Yovel year, though, the Rambam (Sefer Ha’Mitzvos, 137) says that the mitzvah is to blow the shofar. It is the act of blowing which is the mitzvah. It is quite possible, then, that if a stolen shofar was used for Yom Kippur of Yovel, the mitzvah has not been fulfilled (even b’dieved). Another possible ramification is relevant to how many people have to blow the shofar. On Rosh Ha’Shana, when the mitzvah is to hear the shofar blasts, it is sufficient to have one person blow and everyone else listen. But, on Yom Kippur of Yovel, when it is the act of blowing the shofar that is the mitzvah, it is wholly possible that every individual would have to blow for himself (since shomeiah k’oneh cannot apply to an action).
When it comes to the mitzvah of blowing shofar on Rosh Ha’Shana, the Rambam (Hilchos Shofar 1:1,3) explicitly says that the mitzvah is to hear the shofar blasts, as opposed to the act of blowing, and that is why, for example, one has fulfilled the mitzvah (b’dieved) if he heard the blasts of a stolen shofar. In his responsa, the Rambam underscores this point by elaborating that the relationship between the act of blowing the shofar versus hearing the shofar blasts is akin to the relationship between building a sukkah and sitting in the sukkah. This is all insofar as the mitzvah of shofar on Rosh Ha’Shana is concerned. When it comes to the mitzvah of blowing shofar on Yom Kippur of the Yovel year, though, the Rambam (Sefer Ha’Mitzvos, 137) says that the mitzvah is to blow the shofar. It is the act of blowing which is the mitzvah. It is quite possible, then, that if a stolen shofar was used for Yom Kippur of Yovel, the mitzvah has not been fulfilled (even b’dieved). Another possible ramification is relevant to how many people have to blow the shofar. On Rosh Ha’Shana, when the mitzvah is to hear the shofar blasts, it is sufficient to have one person blow and everyone else listen. But, on Yom Kippur of Yovel, when it is the act of blowing the shofar that is the mitzvah, it is wholly possible that every individual would have to blow for himself (since shomeiah k’oneh cannot apply to an action).
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