Page 106 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

Chayei Adam - K’lal 142 - The Order of the Tekiahs

these three cries are three slight sounds, and accordingly, when we blow the
order of tekiah-teruah-tekiah since perhaps this is the teruah we are meant to
blow, [if so] since the length of a teruah is only three slight sounds and we hold
that the length of a tekiah must be the same as the teruah, accordingly the
tekiahs in the order of tekiah-teruah-tekiah must only measure the length of three
slight sounds. Accordingly, some say that one must be careful when blowing
tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah and tekiah-shevarim-tekiah, to [be careful] not to
extend each shever [that it remain shorter than] 3 slight sounds, since then it
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would qualify as a tekiah when he blows tekiah-teruah-tekiah. However our
custom is not [to be careful of this] and we blow longer [shevarim] because we
hold that since when blowing the orders of tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah and
tekiah-shevarim-tekiah [we do so] in order to fulfill the possibility that the teruah
[commanded by the Torah] means shevarim and not teruah, one is permitted to
extend a shever by a little bit, as long has he doesn’t extend it as long as [the
duration of] three shevarim of tekiah-shevarim-tekiah, because then it would be
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as long as its teruah which is three shevarim. The same applies when [blowing
an extended shever in] the order of tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah [that it
shouldn’t be as long as] the shevarim-teruah. There are, however, some
authorities who hold that every yevavah measures three sounds, in which case,
the length of a teruah measures nine sounds, and similarly, every shever measures
three sounds. Accordingly, since we hold that the tekiah should be [at least] as
long as the teruah, one must extend the tekiah of tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah
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to measure [at least] eighteen sounds. [Then,] in the order of tekiah-shevarim-
tekiah and tekiah-teruah-tekiah, one must extend each tekiah [to measure] at
least nine sounds.
םדו רשב
that one may blow more than three shevarim, length of a tekiah is defined accordingly. Since
the Mishna Berura writes to blow only three Rashi defines a teruah as three very short
and no more, and this is indeed the prevalent sounds, any blast long than this is a tekiah.
custom (Magen Avraham quoting the Maharil). Therefore, if one blows a shever this long, it is
ח
really a tekiah and not a shever. However,
14. See above (note 11) that the rishonim according to Tosfos and the others who define
dispute the length of a teruah and that the a teruah as nine short sounds, any shever

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