Question:
What is the different minhagim regarding ledovid hashem Ori and the blowing of the shofar for the month of Elul?
Answer:
LeDovid Hashem Ori
The Minhag Ashkenaz is to recite “LeDovid Hashem Ori” (Psalm 27) once in the morning and once in the evening from Rosh Chodesh Elul until and including Shemini Aseret (and in Israel until and including Hoshana Rabba). LeDavid Hashem Ori should be said after Shacharit (after Shir Shel Yom). On days when there’s Mussaf, LeDavid Hashem Ori is said before Ein Chamocha. On Rosh Chodesh, Barchi Nafshi is said before LeDavid Hashem Ori.
Mishna Brurah 581:2 says that the Minhag Ashkenaz is to say LeDavid Hashem Ori after Shacharit from Rosh Chodesh Elul until and including Shemini Aseret. LeDavid Hashem Ori should be said after Shir Shel Yom. On days when there’s Mussaf, LeDavid Hashem Ori is said before Ein Chamocha. On Rosh Chodesh, Barchei Nafsei is said before LeDavid Hashem Ori. Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 10:67 and Chazon Ovadyah (pg 24) writes that in Israel the minhag is to say it until and including Hoshana Rabba.
Ashkenazim say LeDavid Hashem Ori after Mariv, however, some say it after mincha.
Mateh Efraim 551:6 writes that LeDavid Hashem Ori in the evening should be said after Mincha. This is also the opinion of Mishna Brurah 581:2. However, Elef HaMagen 581:10 holds that LeDavid Hashem Ori should be said after Mariv. Shalmei Moed (pg 21) in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman writes that one should follow the minhag of the Tzibbur one is praying with. Shalmei Moed (pg 21) says that the minhag Ashkenaz is to say LeDavid Hashem Ori after Mariv (such is how the Artscroll Siddur has it).
For Sephardim it’s also proper to say LeDavid Hashem Ori after Shacharit, especially since some Sephardim recite it all year long.
Moroccans also recite LeDavid at Shacharit and Arvit from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Hoshana Rabba including Shabbatot. The custom is to recite it before Kaveh at Shacharit, but it has become common to postpone until after Aleinu. On Shabbat, it is supposed to be recited between Kaveh and Ribbi Chananya, but it is often similarly postponed until after Aleinu. Many have the custom to recite it all year long prior to Arvit. There is no kaddish after Shir Shel Yom before Ldovid.
Blowing Shofar
Who Has The Custom to Blow
The Ashkenazic minhag is to blow the Shofar after Shacharit during Elul. Some have the practice to start on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, while others start on the second day of Rosh Chodesh.[64]
The Sephardic custom is not really to blow the Shofar. However, many Sephardic communities have adopted this practice and blow every day of Elul during Kaddish at the conclusion of Selichos right before Titkabal, as well as during the recitation of the 13 Middot. Nevertheless, one must be careful not to miss reciting the 13 Middot because he is busy blowing the Shofar, and it shouldn’t be done if it will wake up sleeping neighbors.
Number of Blows
The common custom is to blow tashrat, tekiya shevarim teruah and tekiya, one time. Some say that one should do tarat, tashat, and tashrat.
Ashkenazim specifically do not blow the Shofar on Erev Rosh Hashanah, but Sepharadim do not distinguish.
The Shofar should not be blown at night even for practice.
Minyan for Blowing Shofar
The minhag to blow shofar during Elul only applies when davening with a minyan and not if one is davening by oneself. The Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 12:48, Piskei Teshuvot 581:3. Tzitz Eliezer writes that there’s no minhag to have to blow shofar if someone is davening without a minyan. The Nitai Gavriel 4:9 writes that the Lubavitcher Rebbe would blow even when davening by himself. If for some reason a minyan did not blow the Shofar after Shacharit they should blow it after Mincha.
In terms of the halacha for Standing for Shofar Blowing During Elul, The Minhag does not require one to stand during the blowing, but people are accustomed to. |