The Torah in Parashat Beha’alotecha (Bamidbar 10:9-10) introduces the command to blow special Hasoserot (trumpets) on certain occasions. Specifically, the Torah states, trumpets must be blown during times of war or some other crisis, and also on special occasions – holidays and Rosh Hodesh – while the sacrifices are being offered. However, while it appears from the text that the sounding of the Hasoserot is required only holidays and Rosh Hodesh, the Sages understood that they are sounded each day in the Bet Ha’mikdash during the offering of the day’s sacrifices.
The Sefer Ha’hinuch explains that the purpose of the sounding of trumpets on these occasions is to awaken the people so they have greater focus and concentration. The offering of sacrifices requires proper thoughts and intentions, and an improper thought while offering a sacrifice undermines its validity. During times of crisis, too, one must concentrate intently as he beseeches G-d for help. The Sefer Ha’hinuch posits that nothing arouses emotion more than “Niggun” (song), and the trumpet has a greater emotional impact than any other instrument. Therefore, the Sefer Ha’hinuch explains, the Torah requires sounding trumpets during the offering of sacrifices and during times of crisis, as these are occasions when it is critical for a person to focus intently. This resembles the reason given for the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, which has the effect of “awakening” us from our spiritual “slumber” and drawing our attention to the need to repent. During the offering of sacrifices and in times of crisis, when an especially high level of concentration is needed, the Hasoserot are sounded so that people avoid distractions and remain focused on the sacrifices or their prayers for help.
The Hasosrot must be made from silver; trumpets made from other materials are invalid. Each trumpet must be made from a single block of silver which is then banged out to form the instrument, rather than being assembled from several pieces of silver.
The minimum number of trumpets blown in the Bet Ha’mikdash is two, and the maximum number is 120.
This Misva applies during the times of the Bet Ha’mikdash, and is binding specifically upon the Kohanim. Whereas the other instruments played in the Bet Ha’mikdash were played by the Leviyim, the Torah commands that the Kohanim must blow the Hasoserot (10:8). The Rambam implies that it is only on the festivals when specifically the Kohanim must blow the Hasoserot, whereas on other occasions, they may be blown even by the Leviyim. The Sefer Ha’hinuch, however, appears not to follow this opinion, indicating that whenever the Hasoserot are to be blown, this must be done by the Kohanim.
If the Kohanim failed to sound the trumpets when this was required, they have transgressed this affirmative command.
Rav Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), in Iggerot Moshe (Orah Haim 1:169), addresses the question of why this Misva is not observed today during times of crisis. Although we obviously cannot fulfill the requirement to sound the Hasoserot during the offering of sacrifices, as we do not have the Bet Ha’mikdash, there seems, at first glance, to be no reason for not fulfilling the other part of this Misva, to sound trumpets during times of crisis. We can make silver trumpets following the specifications discussed in the Talmud, and we have Kohanim who can sound them when, Heaven forbid, crisis strikes. There is no indication that the Kohanim must be Tehorim (ritually pure) to sound the Hasoserot. Why, then, is this Misva not fulfilled nowadays during times of war or other crises?
Rav Feinstein answers this question by establishing that the two components of this Misva are intrinsically linked to one another. The reason why the Torah requires sounding the Hasoserot during times of crisis, he explains, is because these instruments accompany the offering of sacrifices. We are to blow the trumpets to invoke the merit of the sacrifices, on account of which G-d would then save us. In the absence of the Bet Ha’mikdash, then, there is no reason to sound the Hasoserot during times of crisis, because they are not blown in the Bet Ha’mikdash during the offering of sacrifices. Since the entire purpose of sounding the trumpets is to invoke the merit of the sacrificial offerings which are accompanied by these same trumpets, this Misva does not apply when we do not have the Bet Ha’mikdash.
However, although we do not blow Hasoserot nowadays in times of crisis, we nevertheless still have the great power of heartfelt Tefila which we can and must access whenever we face any sort of trouble.