The Significance of Blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah
The Shofar is one of the earliest instruments used in Jewish music, and it is the only musical instrument that hasn't changed (at all,) in over 5,000 years. It is somewhat like an early predecessor to a trumpet. The Shofar was blown in Biblical times to announce important events, for example, to warn people of the imminence of war, or to announce the coming of peace.
It is also said that the Shofar was sounded at what is widely regarded as the greatest event in all of Jewish history: the point at which God gave Moses the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. It was also used by Jews to announce the coronation of the King of Kings. As part of the Days of Awe, it is first sounded on Rosh Hashanah and then not sounded again until the end of Yom Kippur.HOW SHOFAR IS MADE -The Shofar is traditionally made from the horn of a ram, although it can be made from the horn of other animals, including a goat or a sheep. The horn is hollowed out and the resulting instrument is blown like a trumpet. The blowing of the Shofar is the only specific commandment for Rosh Hashanah, and it is one of the most important ancient rituals that is associated with Rosh Hashanah.SYMBOLISM OF BLOWING SHOFAR -The blowing of the Shofar is appropriately symbolic because it is said that it reminds Jews of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac to fulfill God's command. Ultimately, however, Isaac's life was spared and God ordered that Abraham substitute a sacrificial lamb for his son. For the morning service on each of the two days of Rosh Hashanah, the Shofar is blown for a total of 100 blasts.HOW SHOFAR IS BLOWNThe manner in which the Shofar is blown during the Rosh Hashanah service is such that those 100 blasts are divided into three separate sections.*Section #1 -The Shofar is blown for 30 notes (or blasts) immediately after the Torah or Haftorah are read.*Section #2 -The Shofar is blown for another 30 blasts, but this time, during the repetition of the Amidan which is the important prayer recitation for the morning part of the service.*Section #3 -For the final section of the Shofar blowing, it is blown for 40 blasts to mark the end of the service.RITUAL FOR BLOWING SHOFAR -There is much ritual surrounding the blowing of the Shofar. Before each sounding of the Shofar, it is customary for Jews to say a prayer in which they bless God for commanding or ordering them to gather together to hear the call of the Shofar.After the prayer (or bracha) is said, everyone in the congregation stands at rapt attention in total silence. Children are instructed to be quiet during the blowing of the Shofar.The Shofar is an important symbol for Jews everywhere. It serves as a reminder that the horn they are about to hear represents the animal that Abraham was allowed to sacrifice to God, and that the animal whose life was taken gave it's life so that Abraham's son Isaac could live. As we approach the time during which the High Holy Days are to be celebrated, we should all think about the history that surrounds the celebration of these important holy days. When it blows for the first time at sunset on September 18, 2009, it will mark the beginning of the Jewish year of 5770 and the Days of Awe.SOURCES:The ShofarSounding of the Shofar
