The Shofar (I)

"Then you shall transmit a blast on the horn; in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, the day of Yom Kippur, you shall have the horn sounded throughout the land...And proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." (Leviticus 25)

The Shofar, a well known symbol of Rosh Hashanah, is one of the earliest instruments used in Jewish music. Usually made from a rams horn, a shofar can also be made from the horns of other animals, including those of a goat or sheep. It is the one musical instrument that has not changed in over 5,000 years.

In Biblical times the shofar was blown to announce an important event, such as the alarm of war or the coming of peace. The Great shofar is said to have been sounded during the greatest event in all Jewish history, the giving of the ten commandments to Moses at Mount Sinai (see Shavuot).

The blowing of the Shofar is the only specific commandment for Rosh Hashanah. Just as trumpeters announced the presence of their mortal king, the Shofar is used by Jews to proclaim the coronation of the King of King.

The rams horn is blown 100 times. It is an appropriate symbol as it reminds Jews everywhere of the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to fulfill G-d's command. At the last moment G-d ordered Abraham to exchange Isaac with a sacrificial lamb.

Come Blow our Horn!
Welcome in the High Holy Days by blowing our shofar!

The blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah consists of four sounds sounded in a specific order: tekiah (pronounced t-KEE-uh), shvarim (pronounced (sh-VAW-reem) teruah (pronounced t-ROO-uh) and tekiah gedolah (pronounced geh-DOH-luh). Each lasts approximately three seconds except tekiah gedolah. Tekiah is a straight, unbroken blast, shevarim (which means "broken ones") is a tekiah broken into three one-second segments, teruah is a staccato division of the tekiah into nine rapid-fire notes, while tekiah gedolah is a triple tekiah, lasting a minimum of three consecutive tekiot, or nine seconds.
(Source: Ask Moses.com)

Tekiah
Shvarim
Teruah
Tekiah Gedolah

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<a href="http://holidays.net/highholydays">High Holy Days on the Net</a> - <a href="http://holidays.net/highholydays/shofar.htm">Jewish High Holy Days / Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur</a>

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Comments

natrlmed

18:54 10/09/2008

 

5 min to sundown

Linda

14:49 10/08/2008

 

As I listen to the Shofar blow it brings unexpected tears to my heart and eyes. I'm so grateful for this connection. . . Good Yontif to all.

S.Amnouyporn

21:24 10/06/2008

 

Thank you .

duponcy

21:19 10/06/2008

 

i love the shofar, thanks for creating this website, i am not jewish but i love jewish tradition, i am learning hebrew now. pray for me that i understand the language. thanks a million the shofar sounds great, i blow it as often as i can.

Fast Frankie

10:30 10/01/2008

 

Just Luv It .... Thanks

Aaron

00:19 09/30/2008

 

Beautiful website and was a treat to hear the shofar blown so superbly. L'Shana Tovah.

MY BELOVED

07:49 09/29/2008

 

Shanna Tova my beloved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Justice

23:11 09/28/2008

 

I do not have a shofar, but I went looking for the most beautiful bottle in the house, and stated blowing in the top, after some exercise it produced the most resonating sound, every bottle has one. Would the good God forgive me if I would use it instead? This way, everyone can join. Bless You.

Ms Dianne Shatin

16:34 09/28/2008

 

On what day is the Shofar blown 100 times? And why? Thank you very much for this most important clear explanation of the High Holy Days in Judaism. Also, why did G-d at the last minute save Isaac, Abraham's son by directing Abraham to replace Isaac on the alter with the sacrificial lamb? Was this to test Abraham's faith in G-d?

Dude Billyboy

19:22 08/22/2008

 

YO...read it!