Monday, Elul 6, 5777 / August 28, 2017

During the month of Elul and on Rosh Hashana we are reminded, through the sound of the Shofar, to wake up, repent and better our ways. Here are two parables from the Magid of Dubna, which explain the meaning of the Shofar.

Years ago, when a fire broke out in the village, all the village people would band together and carry water from the well to put out the blaze. 

Once, one of the villagers came to the big city, where he suddenly heard bells ringing and horns blowing. "What is this noise?" he asked. "Whenever there is a fire, we ring the bells and blow the horns and the fire is put out," was the reply.

When he returned to the village he told the elders about his great discovery. "From now on, whenever there is a fire, we too will blow horns and ring bells, like in the big city and the fire will be put out!"

The next time there was a fire, the town elders started blowing their horns and ringing their bells.   But the fire only got worse. Before long, half the village was gone. The villager returned to the big city and complained, "How come when we rang the bells, the fire didn't go out?"

"You fool!" they replied. "Do you really think that the bells and horns put out the blaze? They only alert the people that there is a fire.  But it is up to every one of us to pitch in and extinguish the fire!" 

"It is the same with the sounding of the Shofar," says the Magid of Dubna.  The sound of the Shofar is a call to alert and awaken us. But it is up to us to repent and come closer to G-d."

The Magid of Dubna was once asked, "Why is it that some people listen to the Shofar and yet aren't affected and don't better their ways?  He explained it with the following parable:

A young blacksmith apprentice came from the village to the big city for the first time.  As he went by a blacksmith shop he saw that the blacksmith used a bellows to fan the flame.

"What a great idea", he thought.  He bought one of the bellows.  "From now on I won't have to blow and exhaust myself to fan the fire!"

He came back all excited. But when he put it to use, nothing happened. He went back to the one who sold it to him and complained. The man laughed.  "Only when you have a small fire, can the bellows make it into a flame, but if there is no fire at all, how do you expect the bellows to fan the flame?"

"The Shofar is like the bellows," explained the Magid. "One has to first create a spiritual spark through sincere prayer and only then can the Shofar fan it into a full flame!"      

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA