Why do you carry your machzor but not your shofar on Shabbat Rosh HaShana?

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Everyone incorrectly "trumpets" the excuse that the shofar is not sounded on Shabbat since you can't carry a shofar more than 4 amot in the public domain on Shabbat. But how many people carry their talit and prayer books all the way to synagogue?? Nearly everyone... so what's the big deal about a shofar??

Most of us should be stunned to read the the Shofar was sounded in the Temple on Shabbat:

When the Festival of Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbath, the Shofar was blown in the Beth HaMiqdash [the Temple], but not in the rest of the country. (Mishnah Rosh Hashana4:1; Talmudh Bavli 29b)

The Jerusalem Talmud, also known as the Talmud Yerushalmi asks the following question: "If blowing the Shofar is Torah-mandated, why should it not override Shabbath everywhere? And if it is not Torah-mandated, why does it override Shabbath in the Temple?"

Comments

louis3105 said…
Once again Rav Bar-Hayyim has brought clarity to mystery. A similar article was also published on Ynetnews.com.
September 22, 2009 10:57 AM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
November 15, 2009 11:29 PM
Anonymous said…
It was extremely interesting for me to read this post. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read a bit more on that blog soon.
November 21, 2009 11:20 AM
shma@israel said…
actually we dont do on shabbat all things thats connected to 39 melahot (kinds of work) that had been used during the building of beyt kneset harishon. also carry. and it seems just books are allowed...
January 28, 2010 3:52 PM
Anonymous said…
I love your blog. So much useful information. Thank you.
May 12, 2010 1:18 AM
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