Daily Halacha - Laws of Rosh Hashanah, 20th of Elul 5777

Is it better to have a paid prayer leader or one who serves for free?

It is better to have a paid prayer leader than one who serves for free, in order to prevent inappropriate people from rushing to lead. Also, when the prayer leader is permanent and receives payment, he is careful to arrive for prayer on time, pays closer attention to his prayers, and no unsuitable person is permitted to stand before the prayer stand. If the position were unpaid, anyone could rush to take it and permission would be given to all [Yalkut Yosef Siman 581].

Is the shofar blower required to study the laws of shofar blowing?

It is proper and correct for anyone who blows the shofar to benefit the public and fulfill their obligation to thoroughly review the laws of shofar and the order of blowing, in the Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries, and to test himself beforehand with a Torah scholar. [Yalkut Yosef 585].

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