If a shofar split, and it were glued together, it is pasul (unfit), [being like two shofroth. This, if it were split along its length. But if it were split in its width — if there remained from the mouth site until the place of the split enough (intact shofar) for blowing, it is kasher; if not, it is pasul. And how much is the amount required for blowing? (Enough intact shofar) so that if he holds it in his hand it is visible on either side.] If he glued together pieces of shofroth, it is pasul. If it were punctured and he closed it — if the blowing is impeded, it is pasul; if not, it is kasher. [This, only if he closed it with its own matter, if most of it were whole, and if the filled punctures did not impede the blowing. But if one of these conditions is lacking, it is pasul.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
שופר שנסדק ודבקו – with glue
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
Introduction
This mishnah deals with the physical wholeness of the shofar. It teaches what flaws in the shofar render it invalid.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
פסול – for it is like two ram’s horns/Shofarot, and these words [refer to] split length-wise, but if it was split width-wise, if there remains from the place where one places one’s mouth until the place of the split in order that it be like the measure of a Tekiah, it is valid; but if not, it is invalid. And how much is the measurement of a Tekivah? In order that one can hold it in his hand see it from this [side] to the other [side].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
A shofar which has split and then he stuck it together is not valid. According to the Talmud, this refers to a shofar which has split lengthwise. One cannot use it by gluing it back together. This is either because the shofar won’t sound good, or because air will inevitably escape not only from the end but from the sides as well.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
If he stuck together fragments of shofars, it is not valid. In this case, someone tries to glue together pieces of a broken shofar to make one whole one. This doesn’t work for the same reasons it doesn’t work to glue together one shofar.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
ניקב וסתמו – specifically if he closed it up with its own kind, and the rest of it remained whole and holes which were stopped up did not present the Tekiah [from being sounded], it is fit, and if it is missing one of these conditions, it is invalid.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
If there was a hole in a shofar and he closed it up, if it interferes with the blowing it is not valid, but if it does not it is valid. In this case the shofar was not cracked, as was the shofar in yesterday’s mishnah, but just had a hole in it. If after he patches it up the shofar sounds okay, then it may be used. If not, it may not be used. Others explain that the words “if it interferes with the blowing” refer to before the hole is closed. If the hole prevents the sound before it is patched up, he may not use the shofar even after it has been patched up.
