Question
I have a question about the high holidays (and the month before they start.) Regarding prayers, for someone who is not in a minyan and is praying at home by themself, which prayers are they not allowed to say, and what about if they dont pronounce the names of Hashem but if they say the word Hashem?
Is it better to use the same shofar every year or to buy a new one?
thank you
Answer
Shalom,
Thank you for your question. You are very fortunate in that your question has been addressed at length in the past few years due to the covid virus restrictions. If you search “davening at home” or “yom tov prayers from home” you will find some very good articles from the OU and other sites. The main idea is that the following prayers need a minyan and cannot be said alone - Kaddish, Barachu, Repetition of the Amidah, Torah Reading (but you may read for yourself from a Chumash or Machzor the Torah reading without any blessings), the 13 Attributes of Hashem (that are said in slichot and a few other places). Everything else may be said alone without a minyan.
If the shofar is kosher and makes a nice clean sound when blown, then it is better to use the same shofar and not put it aside for a new one.
Blessings.