B"H

Wednesday, Elul 10, 5781 / August 18, 2021

Each of the holidays has a special mitzvah connected with that holiday. Passover we eat matzah, maror and drink the four cups of wine. In the days of the Temple we also brought the Passover offering.  During the holiday of Sukkot we eat in the Sukkah and perform the mitzvah of reciting a blessing over the four species.  On Rosh Hashana we perform the special mitzvah of blowing the Shofar. 

As with many of the other mitzvot which the Torah commands us to perform, the Torah does not always state their reason. The same is with the mitzvah of blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashana. Yet, there are various explanations and reasons for this special mitzvah and its connection to Rosh Hashana.  Here are some of them:

1) Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment.  The sound of the Shofar on the Day of Judgment serves as a wake-up call to repent and return to G-d.

2) Rosh Hashana is the day when we crown G-d as the King of the universe.  At the coronation of a king, it was customary to blow trumpets. Blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashana proclaims G-d’s Kingship over the universe.

3) The sound of the Shofar reminds us of the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which was accompanied by, "thunder, lightning and the sound of the Shofar" (Exodus 20:15). Sounding the Shofar each year on Rosh Hashana reminds us to observe the Torah and adhere to its mitzvot.

4) The Shofar is made from the horn of a ram. Sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana recalls the ram which was sacrificed in place of our forefather Isaac.  With that, Abraham withstood the greatest of all tests.  Sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana is our prayer that G-d should take into account, on this day of judgment, Abraham’s merit and his complete faith by his willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac upon G-d’s commandment.

Q. How old was Isaac at the time when Abraham placed him on the altar?

A. Isaac was 37 years old then. It also shows Isaac’s commitment as at the age of 37 he went along willingly with his father. With the blowing of the Shofar on the Day of Judgment, we pray that in the merit of Abraham and Isaac G-d will grant us, their descendants, a good, healthy, and sweet year.

The Shofar is also a sound of hope.It reminds us of the ultimate redemption, with the coming of Moshiach whose arrival will be announced with the sound of the Shofar.

Q. Why is the ram's horn, which we blow on Rosh Hashana called "Shofar?"  

A. "Shofar" comes from the same root as "Shapru" which means to "make better" and "beautify." The sound of the Shofar is a call which reminds us to "better and beautify" our deeds in the coming year.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR