The shofar is one of the central sacred objects of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We blow it on Rosh Hashanah to waken ourselves to the task of repentance and to remind us of the holiness of the day. We blow it at the conclusion of Yom Kippur in the hope that our process of teshuvah is concluded.
In this week’s Torah portion, we have horn blasts mentioned for the first time: “Have two silver trumpets made; make them of hammered work. They shall serve you to summon the community and to set the divisions in motion. When both are blown in long blasts, the whole community shall assemble before you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; (Numbers 10:2-3)
Commenting on this passage, Rashi (11th Century Germany) wrote, “and this (protracted sound, a “Tekiah” on both trumpets) is the signal for summoning the congregation.” In their wanderings in the desert, the Israeltes were called to come together by the long blast of a trumpet (tekiah).
We, like our ancient ancestors, are called to assemble before God for the holy process of self-reflection and change by the long blast of the Shofar.
This week’s Torah portion reminds us that the shofar echoes across time. It calls us to our holy work today, just as it called our ancestors thousands of years ago. Next time you hear the shofar, and it sends a shiver up your spine, remember that your ancient ancestors heard the same call and felt the same shiver.
Beha’alotecha – Numbers 8:1 – 12:16, The Parashat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, June 22, 2019
June 21, 2019 by Dean Kertesz •
The shofar is one of the central sacred objects of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We blow it on Rosh Hashanah to waken ourselves to the task of repentance and to remind us of the holiness of the day. We blow it at the conclusion of Yom Kippur in the hope that our process of teshuvah is concluded.
In this week’s Torah portion, we have horn blasts mentioned for the first time: “Have two silver trumpets made; make them of hammered work. They shall serve you to summon the community and to set the divisions in motion. When both are blown in long blasts, the whole community shall assemble before you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; (Numbers 10:2-3)
Commenting on this passage, Rashi (11th Century Germany) wrote, “and this (protracted sound, a “Tekiah” on both trumpets) is the signal for summoning the congregation.” In their wanderings in the desert, the Israeltes were called to come together by the long blast of a trumpet (tekiah).
We, like our ancient ancestors, are called to assemble before God for the holy process of self-reflection and change by the long blast of the Shofar.
This week’s Torah portion reminds us that the shofar echoes across time. It calls us to our holy work today, just as it called our ancestors thousands of years ago. Next time you hear the shofar, and it sends a shiver up your spine, remember that your ancient ancestors heard the same call and felt the same shiver.
This is the power of our Jewish history.