Q. I have been a Baal Tokea blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashana for over thirty years. I have now become hard of hearing and have therefore a number of shailos.
1) Can someone hard of hearing be a Baal Tokea?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 589: 2) rules that one who cannot hear even if he is able to speak does not comply with the mitzva of blowing the Shofar, and therefore cannot be the Baal Tokea for others.
However, if he can still hear even faintly the blowing of a close by Shofar, he can comply with the mitzva himself and also for others.
On question 2568 regarding the reading of the Megilla we wrote: "Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 689: 2) and Mishna Berura (ibid. 5), rule that one that can talk but is totally deaf, cannot read the megilla for others, since there is a requirement for pirsume nissa, or publicizing the miracle regarding megilla reading. Mishna Berura quoting Shaarei Teshuva asserts, that the above applies only when he cannot hear at all, but if he hears when being addressed loudly he may read for others.
However, Tzemach Tzedek (E.H. 323) maintains that if he reads with a normal voice that he cannot hear himself, they do not comply. (See Piskei Teshuvos ibid. who quotes more lenient opinions).
Horav Shlomo Millers’ Shlit’a opinion is that if he reads loud enough, that he can hear himself without the hearing aid, he can read lechatchila (on the onset) for others."
The Rov maintains that the same would apply to Shofar blowing.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
