Q. I'm going to blow Shofar for a relative of mine in hospital that cannot be moved from his bed. Since there are other non-Jewish patients on that room, the administration from past years experience is reluctant to permit blowing the shofar on the room so as to not to upset the other patients. I may convince them to permit me blowing if I can keep it very brief. What is the minimum of Kolot (sounds) that one can blow to comply with the mitzva?
A. Mishna Berura (586: 22) regarding one who took an oath no to blow Shofar, rules that the minimum amount needed for compliance is ten voices, namely: Tashrak (Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah. Tekiah) - Tashat (Tekiah, Shevarim, Tekiah) and Tarat ( Tekiah, Teruah. Tekiah). See similar ruling of Mishna Berura (600: 7), Mate Efraim (586: 7) and Piskei Teshuvos (590: 1).
Although Rema (592: 1) writes that one should blow during Shemone Essreh three times Tashrak, Mishna Berura (ibid.) explains that it is because he has already complied with the Biblical mitzva at the beginning of the Shofar blowing.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”'a opinion is that the minimum needed to comply with the mitzva is to blow three times Tashrak as the Rema above rules.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
