Daily Halacha - Laws of Rosh Hashanah, 17th of Elul 5777

Who is exempt from the commandment of hearing the shofar?

Women and minors are exempt from the commandment of the shofar, nevertheless, women who go to hear the shofar sound are doing a good deed and will receive reward. A woman who has practiced hearing the shofar every year and now wants to completely cancel her custom should ask her husband to release her from this vow during the nullification of vows on the eve of Rosh Hashanah [Yalkut Yosef section 589, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim, p. 130].

Is it permissible to speak between the seated shofar blasts and the standing shofar blasts?

One should not speak between the shofar blasts except about matters relating to the prayer and the shofar blasts only. However, someone who needs to relieve themselves may recite the "Asher Yatzar" blessing [ibid, p. 138].

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