עברית
Holidays
Must a Woman Hear the Shofar Blowing on Rosh Hashanah?
Question
Shalom and blessings, as you know, the prayers of Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue greatly contribute to spiritual elevation. I am a mother of young children, blessed be He. I do not think I will be able to pray in the synagogue with the little ones. How can I pray at home? Am I required to hear the shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah? Blessings and success, Happy New Year.
Answer
Greetings,
1. If you cannot pray because you are busy caring for your children, then according to the law you are exempt from praying. Nevertheless, it is very advisable to make an effort to find some time to pray at least part of the prayers.
2. A woman is exempt from hearing the shofar blowing, as it is a time-bound positive commandment (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 586:3), yet women have a custom to be stringent with themselves and go to hear the shofar blowing, but a woman should not be stringent if to do so she has to bring her young children to the synagogue and they will disturb the congregation from hearing the shofar blowing properly (Yalkut Yosef there, section 5).
In many places, there are opportunities for women to hear the shofar blowing in the late afternoon hours, and if you would like to be stringent and hear the shofar, you can do so there.
Wishing you a good inscription and sealing in the Book of Life,
Hillel Meirs
