4. At first they received evidence of the new moon during the whole (thirtieth) day; but once the witnesses delayed coming, and the Levites erred in the chant. They decreed, that they should receive evidence only till the time of the evening sacrifice; and if witnesses came after the evening sacrifice, that and the next day were kept holy. After the destruction of the Sanctuary Rabban Jochanan, son of Zacai, decreed, “that they should receive evidence of the new moon during the whole day.” R. Joshua, son of Korcha, says, “and again Rabban Jochanan, son of Zacai, decreed that wherever the chief of the Sanhedrin might be, the witnesses need only go to the place of its meeting.”
5. The order of blessings to be said on the New Year is, “The Fathers,”[310] and “The Mighty,” and “Sanctification of the Name,” and there are comprehended the “Kingdoms” without blowing the trumpet; “The Holiness of the Day,” and he blows; “The Remembrances,” and he blows; “The Trumpets,” and he blows. And he says, “The Service,” “The Confession,” and “Blessing of the Priests.” The words of R. Jochanan, son of Nourri. Said R. Akivah to him, “if the trumpet be not blown after ‘The Kingdoms,’ why are they mentioned?” But the order is, “The Fathers,” and “The Mighty,” and “Sanctification of the Name,” and there are comprehended “The Kingdoms,” with sanctification of the Day, and he blows; “The Remembrances,” and he blows; “The Trumpets,” and he blows. And he says, “The Service,” “The Confession,” and “Blessing of the Priests.”
6. They cannot read less than ten (texts of Scripture) relating to “The Kingdom,” ten relating to “Remembrances,” and ten to “Trumpets.”[311] R. Jochanan, son of Nourri, says, “if three be read from all of them, the duty is fulfilled, but they mention not the remembrance of the kingdom, and trumpet of vengeance.[312] They must begin with the Law and end with the Prophets.” R. José says, “if they end with the Law, the duty is fulfilled.”
7. (The minister of the congregation) must go over to the reading-desk on the feast of the New Year. The second minister must blow the trumpet. But at the hour for the hymn the first must read the hymn.
8. For sounding the trumpet of the New Year they may not transgress the Sabbatical limit, they may not remove for it a heap of stones, they may not climb a tree, and they may not ride a beast, or swim over water. Nor may they cut it[313] with anything that violates the Sabbatical rest, or violates a negative command. But if one wish he may pour into it water or wine.[314] They may not prevent children from blowing, but they may practise in teaching them. But he who practises [pg 144] blowing is not freed from his obligation, and he who listens to the practice is not freed from his obligation.
9. The order of blowing the trumpet is, three blasts blown thrice. The measure of the blast is as six alarms. The measure of the alarm is as three shrieks. If one blew the first and prolonged the blast for the second to be as two, it reckons but as one. He who has said the blessings, and afterward a trumpet is given to him, must blow a blast, an alarm, and a blast three times. As the minister of the congregation is bound, so is each individual bound. R. Gamaliel says, “the minister of the congregation releases the public from their obligations.”
On Fasting
When Rain is to be Prayed for—Proclamations for Fasting—Ceremonial of Fasting—Prayers—Blowing of Trumpets—R. Gamaliel and R. Meier—Sign of Famine—Partial Rain—Pestilence—Story of Hone Hammeagal—Lifting Up of Hands—Deputies—Bringing Wood—Five Things Happened in Tammuz and Five in Ab—Mortifications—Rejoicings.