Shofar

One of the most important observances of the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah is hearing the shofar blown.

The shofar - a ram's horn - is the oldest wind instrument. And the sounding of the shofar is the most ancient rite in the Rosh Hashanah observances. The primitive and simple sound of the shofar spiritually touches people on Judaism's holy day of soul-searching, repentance and judgment.

Why is the Shofar Blown?

Sa'adiah Gaon gives ten reasons for sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

1. the shofar acknowledges God as King
2. the shofar stirs the conscience
3. the shofar reminds Jews of God's revelation at Sinai
4. the shofar reminds Jews of the Prophets' warnings
5. the shofar reminds Jews of the destruction of the Temple
6. the shofar reminds Jews of the ram Abraham sacrificed in place of his son Isaac
7. the shofar reminds Jews to feel humble before God
8. the shofar reminds Jews of the Day of Final Judgment
9. the shofar foreshadows the proclamation of freedom when the exiled will return to Israel
10. the shofar foreshadows the inauguration of God's reign of righteousness throughout the world

Who Hears the Shofar?

All those old enough to be educated regarding the mitzvah of hearing the shofar are obligated to hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. To fulfill the mitzvah, women may sound the shofar and say the blessing.

How is the Shofar Sounded?

It is customary to blow the shofar in synagogues in the same place where the Torah is read.

The person blowing the shofar (Ba'al Teki'ah) and all those listening should be instructed that they are listening to the shofar in order to fulfill God's commandment (mitzvah) to hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Two blessings are recited before the Shofar is blown.

1. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha'Olam, asher kidishanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu leshoma kol shofar.
   
   Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has blessed us in his commandments and commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar.
   
   
2. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha'Olam, shehechiyanu v'kiyimanu v'higianu la'zman ha'zeh.
   
   Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

Once the blessings have been made, no one should speak until the end of the shofar blasts.

The shofar is blown somewhat like a trumpet. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day.

There are four different types of shofar notes:

1. tekiah - 3-second sustained note
2. shevarim - three 1-second notes rising in tone
3. teruah - series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds
4. tekiah gedolah - the final blast in a set which lasts as long as the shofar blower can blow

When is the Shofar Blown?

The shofar is blown immediately after the haftara is read (30 blasts). During the cantor's repetition of the Amidah of Musaf, an additional 30 blasts of the shofar are sounded. At the conclusion of the prayer service, 40 extra blasts are sounded to make a total of 100 shofar blasts. It is customary for the final blast to be prolonged (Tekia Gedola).

When Rosh Hashanah falls on the Jewish Sabbath, the shofar is not sounded.