6095 - Who Blew It?
Q. Hon. Rabbi We have a debate in our shul if we should maintain our elderly shofar blower for many years with a younger more crafty and capable one. What is the correct thing to do on the days that provide our so much needed blessed future? Thanks so much.
A. On question 2348 we wrote: If the Baal Tokea on Rosh Hashana keeps on making mistakes in the shofar blowing, is that considered to be a siman ra’a or bad omen for the congregation?
A. Mishna (Brochos 34b) teaches that if a Shaliach Tzibur makes a mistake, it is a bad omen for the people who send him, since an agent representing someone is like him.
Teshuvos Vehanhogos (O.H. 5: 176: 6) mentions that it applies also to a Baal Tokea.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that siman ra’a does not necessarily apply to a Baal Tokea, who keeps on making mistakes by shofar blowing, since in essence he is not a shaliach representing the congregation.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a, and Horav Dovid Bartfeld consulting, Horav Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz Shlit’a
Reviewed by: Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Published: September 13, 2026