– Q. Dear Rabbi; I have an option of davening in a shul where they have an excellent Baal Tokea, (Blower of the Shofar) that follows all the dikdukim, halachos and kavanot (Halacha details and intentions) of the mitzva of Shofar.
I also have an alternative option to daven in a minyan where the Baalei Tefila are superior and posses beautifully emotional and inspiring voices. The davening itself of the mispaleleim attending that they lead is very moving and emotive. However, the Baal Tokea is a bit deficient and often he has to blow a few times until he gets it right. Which minyan does Horav Miller recommend and why?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is better to attend the shul where the davening is very moving and emotive and is recited with lots of Kavana. The Rov added that after all, many Gedolim mention that a major reason for the blowing of the Shofar is to awaken us to daven to Hashem during judgment day and do proper Teshuva. That seems to be accomplished better on the second shul.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a.