Sounding the Shofar

Sounding the Shofar

For those of you who have attended, a Rosh HaShanah service (or watched one here on the Shalom Adventure magazine), a prominent practice you will observe is the blowing of a shofar, or ram's horn.   This practice is largely derived from the Biblical injunction in Leviticus 23 to observe this day with "blast of trumpets."  At many Rosh Hashanah services, it is not uncommon for the shofar to be "blasted" upwards of 100 times!

What is the Sounding of the Shofar Intended to signify?

Among other things, the shofar blasts at Rosh Hashanah are intended to represent:

•    The Coronation of a King:
•    A Call to Repentance...the shofar serves to remind the Jewish people that the very King they coronate with its blast is the same King before whom they will be judged. The shofar blast here is an alarm to "awaken" the souls of God's people to their need of His mercy and forgiveness.
•    The commemoration of the binding of Isaac (Akedah) and God's provision of a substitute ram:  Significantly, two of the Torah portions read at Rosh HaShanah services are the accounts of 1) the birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-24), and 2) Isaac's binding by his father Abraham (Gen. 22:1-14).  You'll remember that in the Akedah, Abraham's faith was tested when God ordered that he offer his only beloved son, Isaac, as a "burnt offering"  on Mount Moriah (v. 2).  Abraham obeyed God, demonstrating his unwavering faith in the LORD.  Then the LORD, seeing that Abraham truly "feared God," (v.12), commanded that Abraham withdraw the knife that was soon to slay Isaac.  Instead of Isaac, God provided a ram for the burnt offering as substitutionary sacrifice.  Thus the shofar, or ram's horn,  is meant to remind the observer of Rosh Hashanah of the "divinely provided ram" that paid the "ransom for Isaac's life" (Parsons).

 

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Articles

Lime-in-the-Coconut Macaroons

Lime zest is a fresh addition to macaroons, and a Microplane is our zesting tool of choice. If…
Lime-in-the-Coconut Macaroons
Image celebrating Shavuot: 10 Commandments on 2 stone tablets

Shavuot

Shavuot means weeks and it is one of the feasts of the LORD mentioned in the Torah.
Shavuot
Chanukah Story

Chanukah Story

Around the year 200 BCE, Israel was under the rulership of the Syrians who were under the…
Chanukah Story

Matzoh Vegetable Stuffing

Matzoh can take many forms during the eight days of Passover: crushed into meal for baking or…
Matzoh Vegetable Stuffing

Rejoicing with the Family of God

From night one of the festival of Sukkot, when that first meal is enjoyed with family and…
Rejoicing with the Family of God

Vegan Challah with Raisins

Ingredients:2 packages dry yeast2 cups warm water (105°F-115°F)1/2 cup sugar, divided3…
Vegan Challah with Raisins
Illustration:

Porkless Shavuot

Calculating the time it took to go from Egypt to Mount Sinai, it is most likely that Moses was…
Porkless Shavuot

Matza-rella Lasagna

Ingredients:• 3 matza squares• 4 egg whites• 1 can kosher tomato-mushroom sauce• salt, pepper,…
Matza-rella Lasagna

Vegan Tzimmis

ShalomVeg.com Recipes• 10 large carrots; peeled, diced• 2 medium potatoes cubed• 3 yams, or…
Vegan Tzimmis

Water Immersion (Tevilah Mikveh)

Water immersion (tevilah mikveh) ... repentance--and therefore forgiveness--is a predominant…
Water Immersion (Tevilah Mikveh)
Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah

Have you ever been to a simcha? A simcha is a celebration.
Simchat Torah

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation