All shofroth are kasher except for that of a bullock, it being called a "horn" [and not a "shofar," viz. (Deuteronomy 33:17): "The firstling of his bullock; grandeur is his; and the horns of a wild ox are his horns" — whereas in respect to Rosh Hashanah, "shofar" is written, viz. (in respect to the Jubilee) (Leviticus 25:9): "And you shall cause to pass a shofar of teruah," and (the shofar of) Rosh Hashanah is derived from that of the Jubilee.] R. Yossi demurred: "Are not all shofroth called horns, viz. (Joshua 6:5): 'When they blow on the horn of the yovel'?" [And "yovel" is a ram. As R. Akiva said: When I went to Gaul, they called a ram "yuvla." We see, then, that even the shofar of a ram is called a horn. And the rabbis counter: All shofroth are called both "horn" and "shofar," whereas the horn of an ox is called "horn," but not shofar. The halachah is in accordance with the sages.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
שהוא קרן – and it is not called a Shofar, as it is written (Deuteronomy 33:17): “Like the firstling bull in his majesty, he has horns like the horns of a wild ox; [with them he gores the peoples…].” But regarding the Shofar, it is written (Leviticus 25:9): “Then you shall sound the horn loud…” And we learn Rosh Hashanah from the Jubilee [year].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
Introduction
This mishnah opens the second half of tractate Rosh Hashanah, which deals mostly with the laws of the shofar and the shofar blasts, as well as the special mussaf prayers for Rosh Hashanah. In this mishnah rabbis debate what animals’ horns may be used for the shofar
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
בקרן היובל – the ram is male, as Rabbi Akiba said: When I walked to Galacia (Talmud Rosh Hashanah 26a), they called the male a ram, so we see that even a Shofar of a ram is called קרן /horn, and the Rabbis state that all the Shofars are called קרן/horn, and are called Shofar, except for a cow, it is called a horn, but not a Shofar, and the Halakha is according to the Sages.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
All shofars may be used except for that of a cow, because it is a keren. According to the first opinion, all shofars can be used on Rosh Hashanah expect for the horn of a cow, because the horn of a cow is not called a shofar but rather a keren, which is a Hebrew word for horn. The reason that we require a horn called a shofar is that Leviticus 25:9 uses the word shofar in connection with Yom Kippur of the Jubilee year, and the rabbis say that this shofar is the paradigm for the shofar of Rosh Hashanah. The types of shofar that can be used are specifically that of a ram (an ayil in Hebrew), which is usually bent, and that of an ibex (a yael in Hebrew), which is straight.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
Rabbi Yose said: Are not all shofars called keren as it says, “When they make a long blast with the ram’s keren [horn]?” (Isaiah 6:5). Rabbi Yose points out that the horn of a ram is also called a keren, as proven from the quote from Isaiah. And if a ram’s horn can be used even though it is called a keren, why can’t the horn of a cow be used? The other rabbis don’t respond to Rabbi Yose in the mishnah. The Talmud, however does provide their reponse. The rabbis respond to Rabbi Yose that all horns of animals are called both keren and shofar, whereas that of a cow is called only keren. This means that in order for a horn to be used it has to be called a shofar but not necessarily exclusively.
