- ושתי חצוצרות מן הצדדין
The Mishnah on Daf 26b stated regarding blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah in the Beis Hamikdash: ושתי חצוצרות מן הצדדין – and two trumpets are blown at the sides, שופר מאריך וחצוצרות מקצרות שמצות היום בשופר – the shofar blast is extended, and the trumpets blow short, for the mitzvah of the day is with the shofar. The Gemara asks ותרי קלי מי משתמעי – And are two sounds that issue simultaneously, distinguishable? But it was taught in a Baraisa: "זכור" ו"שמור" בדיבור אחד נאמרו – The mitzvos to remember the Shabbos day and to guard the Shabbos day, were pronounced by Hashem in a single utterance, מה שאין הפה יכולה לדבר ואין האוזן יכולה לשמוע – something the human mouth cannot pronounce, and the human ear cannot ordinarily hear. After the first answer is rejected, the Gemara answers that two sounds issuing from one person are not discernable, whereas two sounds from two people are discernable in certain circumstances, such as in the cases of Hallel and Megillah, where even ten people can read them simultaneously, כיון דחביב יהיב דעתיה – since each of these readings are dear to the listener, he puts his mind to discern every word. Here too, since the mitzvah of shofar is dear, he puts his mind to hear the sound of the shofar while the trumpets are blown.
- Why the mouth of the shofar is plated with gold and not with silver
The Mishnah stated that the mouth of the shofar blown on Rosh Hashanah in the Beis Hamikdash is plated with gold, whereas the mouths of shofars blown on fast days are plated with silver. The Gemara gives two reasons to explain the difference. If you prefer, you can say כל כינופיא דכסף הוא – every assembly is convened with silver instruments, as it is written, עשה לך שתי חצוצרות כסף – Make for yourself two trumpets of silver…and they shall be yours for the summoning of the assembly. Therefore, since the purpose of blowing on a fast day is to assemble the people for tefillah, the shofars must be plated with silver. Or, if you prefer, say that התורה חסה על ממונן של ישראל – the Torah was concerned for Yisroel’s money, and did not want to burden the communal treasury with the expense of plating with gold. The Gemara asks that if there is a monetary burden, then the shofar of Rosh Hashanah should also be plated with silver, and answers, אפילו הכי כבוד יום טוב עדיף – Nevertheless, contributing to the honor of Rosh Hashanah by plating the shofar with gold is a greater consideration.
- והפכו ותקע בו לא יצא
The next Mishnah lists many physical defects that make a shofar passul, and the Gemara brings Baraisos that identify additional pesulim. It was taught: הפכו ותקע בו לא יצא – If he reversed the shofar and blew into it, he has not fulfilled his chiyuv. Rav Pappa said: Do not say that the case is where he reversed the shofar like one reverses a shirt, אלא שהרחיב את הקצר וקיצר את הרחב – Rather the Baraisa means that he widened the narrow end and narrowed the wide end. What is the reason for disqualifying such a shofar? It is like the statement of Rav Masnah, who said: The Torah says, "והעברת" – and you shall cause a teruah to pass. This teaches דרך העברתו בעינן – that we require the shofar to blown in a manner in which it is carried on the animal’s head, meaning with the original narrow end still narrow and the original wide end still wide.