By Mark Mietkiewicz, JTNews Columnist
A hush falls over the congregation. The shofar is raised and the first blast — tekiah — is sounded. The shofar is one of Judaism’s most famous symbols and is responsible for some of the religion’s most profound writings. Today, some insights into the shofar from the far reaches of the Web.
Rav Saadiah Gaon gives 10 reasons for blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.
Among them: “Rosh Hashanah is the day that commemorates the creation of the world and it is described as the ‘coronation’ of God. As it is customary to sound a trumpet at a king’s coronation so we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. By blowing the shofar we recognize the ‘purpose’ of the creation.” [tinyurl.com/32oyox]
Every so often I come across a site the blows me away by its thoroughness, range and dedication to a topic. Arthur L. Finkle’s “Shofar Sounders” Web site is one of them.
Finkle has sections you’d expect, like Sounds of the Shofar, the Meanings of the Sounds, and Biblical and Mishnaic Citations. But did you ever consider Mouthpiece Importance or the Physics of a Shofar? And then there are his practical tips on how to blow a shofar: make sure your lips are moist. Don’t forget to use your diaphragm. And make sure you’re ready. No professional musician would dream of picking up an instrument and blasting out a note without a proper warm-up. Do the same with your shofar. [tinyurl.com/2vplsb]
You may have perfected your blasts, but what do they all mean? My Jewish Learning has a great mini-site about the shofar, including the page Jewish Morse Code: four shofar sounds, endless messages.
“The cries of the shofar disturb the peace, calling upon us to open our sleepy eyes and see the untold thousands around us who are victims of human injustice,” reads the site. “In the pensive, sad wail of the shevarim we can hear the moans of the world, the pain and suffering that surround us. In the staccato screams of the teruah we can hear the summons to do battle. ‘Charge!’ calls the shofar. ‘Go out and do battle with injustice. Go out and make this world a better place.’” [tinyurl.com/yqvso8]
For the Jew, the urge to hear the shofar can be extremely powerful. Rabbi Eli Hecht tells the heartbreaking story of how a rabbi risked his life to sound a shofar in Auschwitz for hundreds of doomed children. [tinyurl.com/2hbmt5] And the there’s the story of how some Conversos, Spanish Jews who officially converted to Christianity, were able to listen to the shofar on Rosh Hashanah without provoking the ire of the Inquisition. [tinyurl.com/4ukp9]
Shofars aren’t for Rosh Hashanah only. They were sounded to usher in the Jubilee year. During the Middle Ages, Jews blew the shofar to mark the beginning of the Sabbath or to announce deaths, fasts and even excommunications. And in more recent times, the shofar has been used in Israel at the inauguration of each new president. [tinyurl.com/222x2e]
Sure, you can buy a shofar at your local Judaica shop or through the Web, but why not make one yourself? All you have to do is get your hands on the horn from a kosher animal: goat, ram, antelope, gazelle, bighorn sheep or ibex. (No cows please. Too much a connection to Exodus’s golden calf and the sin of idol worship.) Then get an electric drill, soft wire, Borax and a coping saw. Presto! Your own home-made shofar. [tinyurl.com/3d6krh]
If you don’t have an ibex handy but want like to see what its shofar would look like, download Rabbi Natan Slifkin’s Exotic Shofars. This 18-page booklet has shofars (some kosher, some not) from an incredible menagerie including deer, gensbok and eland. [tinyurl.com/2h3blx]
And if you are lucky enough to have your own shofar, you may marvel at its beautiful craftsmanship and appreciate its evocative tones. But you may also come to the realization that it smells. How to clean a shofar? All its needs is some vinegar or baking soda and a good soaking. Just don’t expect perfection.
“Most shofars retain a slight, lingering reminiscence of their humble origin, the ram,” says the site. [tinyurl.com/26k4mx]
For generations, shul-goers have been informally judging their shofar-blower’s musical performance. Too soft! Too sharp! Too staccato! If those comments remind you of a reality TV talent show, then take a gander at “Shofar Idol” to see how three judges (including one sporting a black T-shirt) would review a High Holiday routine. [danmeth.com/shofaridol.htm]
Shana tova u’metuka, have a good and sweet New Year. And have a blast too!
Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Internet producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be reached at highway@rogers.com.