As we come to the period leading up to the High Holidays on the Jewish Calendar (Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement), Jews all over the world embrace the custom of blowing the shofar (Ram’s Horn). Numerous times throughout the Bible do we see the Ram’s horn brought into use and each time has a different purpose and symbolism.
The symbolism behind the shofar first appears during the binding of Issac in Genesis 22:13.
“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”
It is interesting to note that the first time the Hebrew word for ‘love’ appears in the Bible is in relation to a father having to sacrifice his son who he loves (Genesis 22:2). The idea of sacrifice and love, and sacrificing for love, has been intertwined ever since.
The shofar is also used to herald God’s presence, as it states in Exodus 19:16 when the Jewish Nation received the 10 Commandments:
“On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.”
Aside from awakening the nation, the shofar is also used to signal the start of the High Holidays for the Jewish nation (Leviticus 23:24, 25:9 and Numbers 29:1).
We see the shofar used as an instrument of spiritual warfare, as is evidenced in Numbers 10:9:
“And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.”
Aside from these purposes the shofar was used to sound alarms for the camp of Israel (Numbers 10:5-6, Ezekiel 33:3), to convene assemblies, announce the new moon and the Jubilee, herald messages and to coronate kings. The shofar was also used in the Temple service (2 Chronicles 15:14, Psalm 47:6, 89:16, 150:5) and when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to the Jewish Temple (1 Samuel 4:5, 2 Samuel 6:15).
But what is this instrument of many hats that is seemingly present in almost every Jewish public ceremony?
On the High Holidays it is Jewish belief that all of mankind comes before God for judgement and to be inscribed either in the ‘book of life’ or the ‘book of death’. The shofar is meant at its very core to spiritually awaken those who hear the sound and help them realize that they should be the ones weeping before God either in jubilation or in trepidation.
Certainly this is a time for trepidation and introspection, and the shofar is sounded for a month leading up to the awe-filled day. During its sounding we try to incorporate in our thoughts all of the different elements that the shofar represents: love, sacrifice, the glory of God, Kingship, independence, freedom, worship, independence, existential threats, the conquering of enemies, and the thrill of victory together with the threat of defeat.
In that maelstrom of meaning and emotion the call pierces through to the very soul of those who attune themselves to ‘grandeur of meaning’ that this simple horn represents. Even though not all shofars sounds the same, and not all those who blow the shofar will do so with the same intensity, the sound is laced through-and-through with meaning and symbolism that incorporates over 4,000 years of pain, suffering, joy, jubilation, sacrifice and love highlighting the human experience.
In our day and age it is difficult to find another item or object which can convey such raw symbolic power. And the types and variety of horns that are available, as well as the relative ease of purchasing one, are all part of the plan. So which one is the ‘best’ shofar to purchase? Well that all depends.
The shofar can be bought easily nowadays whether in stores or online. When looking to buy a shofar one is struck by a multitude of choices. There are shofars of all literal shapes, sizes and colors. More popular types include classic, flat, Dutch/Italian, Babylonian, and Yemenite. It is difficult to tell which is ‘best’ per se, but as a rule of thumb the best one to use is the one which is customary to use in your community. Barring that, the best shofar to use is the one that inspires you the most. Here are some of their differences:
The classic ram horn shofars are by far the most common. It is used by both Jews emanating from Northeast Europe (Ashkenazic) as well as Jews from Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern countries (Sephardic). Most ram horn shofars are light in color though black ones are available from black rams.
Flat ram horn shofars that are typically used by Moroccan and German Jews. This type of shofar is specifically use due to persecution in the past when the Jews would need to hide the shofar under their clothing. The shape of the flat ram horn shofar is simple with an upturned end.
Dutch/Italian shofars are often made of goat horns as those animals were far more prevalent in those countries than rams were.
Babylonian shofars are natural, unfinished ram’s horns with a very deep sound and are typically used by Iraqi and Iranian Jews.
Yemenite shofars are made from the horn of a kudu antelope and are therefore very long and typically of spiral shape.
Please note that the size and shape do not affect how suitable or ‘Kosher’ the shofar is. A shofar bought from a reliable source will be ‘Kosher’ in any event.
For people on the go or traveling, or blowing the shofar for others in a variety of places, a smaller shofar is probably the best choice. For synagogue use, a larger, deeper-sounding shofar or medium-sized shofar is more popular. But also bear in mind that very small or very large shofars are usually more difficult to blow.
Now that you know the ins and outs of the shofar itself, feel free to go out and pick one that speaks to you. And remember, the shofars importance lies in the feeling evoked which lays dormant behind the sound it makes and the connections that you feel when hearing its piercing call.
EXCLUSIVE for Breaking Israel News readers: To learn how you can purchase your own shofar, click here!
