Monday, October 09, 2006

Daf Yomi - Sukkah 34 - Chatzotzros Growing

The Gemora states that there are three words that their names changes since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh. One of the words is chatzotzros (trumpets) to shofar and vice versa. The Gemora proceeds to state that the relevance of this is regarding the shofar of Rosh Hashana. Rashi explains that a shofar is bent and chatzotzros are straight and not obtained from a ram.

It would appear from Rashi that although the chatzotzros are not from a ram, they are indeed derived from a different animal. This is very problematic because the torah explicitly states that the chatzotzros are made from solid silver.

Tosfos in Avoda Zora 47 asks this precise question on a Gemora there that speculates as to what the halacha would be with the horns of animal to be used a schatzotzros in an instance where someone would bow down to an animal as avoda zora. Tosfos asks that chatzotzros were made out of silver and not obtained from an animal? He answers that although the chatzotzros that the kohanim used were made from silver, there were also chatzotzros that the leviim used as musical instruments and these were indeed obtained from an animal.

The Kapos Temorim asks that it seems from Rashi that the chatzotzros are disqualified to be used for Rosh Hashana because it is straight and not from a ram. This, he asks, is not the halacha. Using a ram’s horn is only a preference and if the shofar is not bent, it is still valid? Actually, the Rambam does rule that one may only use a ram’s horn for a shofar.

The Aruch Lener answers that the explanation in Rashi is that it is unfit to be used for Rosh Hashana because it is metal.

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