Page 11 - HaMizrachi # 22 Rosh HahHana - Yom Kippur 2020 USA

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

The Deep Significance

of the Shofar

he shofar has a number of uses shofar here is expressing G-d’s King- accompanying the shofar blowing are
in Tanach, the most basic of ship (Shemot 19:16). an expression of the day’s essence –
Twhich is as a musical instru- joy and celebration at being so close
ment, expressing joy. For example, At the time of the conquest of Jeri- to G-d, together with the awe, fear and
when bringing the Aron up to Jerusa- cho, the shofar combines both aspects trepidation of standing before Him in
lem, David and the people blow the – it’s a war, but it’s a miraculous war, judgement.
shofar as part of the great celebration hence the blowing is performed by the
(Shmuel Bet 6:15). Similarly, in Tehil- Kohanim before the Ark of G-d: “And I think that Ezra and Nechemia taught
lim 150:3: “Praise Him with the blast the seven Kohanim carrying the seven the people the right balance between
of the shofar, praise Him with lyre and shofars before the Ark of G-d walked these two feelings on this day: “So Ezra
harp.” on and blew the shofars” (Yehoshua the Kohen brought the Torah before
6:13). the congregation… on the first day of
The blowing of the shofar at the the seventh month [Rosh Hashanah]…
beginning of the Jubilee year can also On Rosh Hashanah, we have the and Ezra blessed Hashem, the great
be interpreted as a sound of joy, but opportunity to stop and listen to the G-d… they bowed and prostrated
its purpose could simply be to pro- sound of the shofar, which arouses our themselves in front of G-d… and they
claim the start of the momentous hearts and awakens our internal voice. read clearly from G-d’s Torah, apply-
year. Shofar as announcement appears Indeed, the blasts of the shofar can ing wisdom… and Nechemia said…
numerous times, particularly in con- make us tremble and fearful, like the ‘Today is holy to the L-rd your G-d.
nection to war, for example, when shofar sounded at the start of a war. It Don’t mourn and don’t cry,’ for all the
Gidon calls upon the local residents to hits us with a powerful sense of what people were crying as they heard the
gather for war (Shoftim 7:8), or when the Day of Judgement is, as we recall words of the Torah. And he said to
Shaul blows the shofar after Yonatan our mistakes and failures, feel trep- them, ‘Go eat from the best foods and
kills the Philistine commissioner as idation for the year ahead and spur drink sweet beverages… because the
a sign for the war to begin (Shmuel ourselves to do teshuva out of Yirat day is holy to our Master and don’t be
Aleph 13:3), and many others. Hashem (the fear of G-d). sad because rejoicing in G-d is your
fortress” (Nechemia 8:2-10).
It appears the function of the shofar On the other hand, at the same time,
was to declare war, to warn, and to the sound of the shofar can stir feelings Ezra and Nechemia taught the people
cause the people to gather in prepa- of celebration and joy, like an instru- that Rosh Hashanah is a day of holi-
ration for war. Indeed, the shofar ment accompanying festive occasions. ness, and it is fitting to contemplate
became so identified with war that it In addition, the shofar on Rosh Hasha- one’s Avodat Hashem and mitzvah
is sometimes mentioned as a synonym nah can also express the coronation observance and give an accounting of
for war or the fear that accompanies of G-d as King over the World, and oneself. On the other hand, one must
it: “Is the shofar ever sounded in a city perhaps in that sense it really does be wary of slipping into sadness and
and people do not fear?” (Amos 3:6). integrate the two aspects above: Cor- tears. It is a day of joy, of celebration,
“because rejoicing in G-d is your for-
In addition to joy and announcing war, onating G-d is a festive and joyous tress.” That is what gives us the feeling
blowing the shofar is also used to mark event, yet it also carries an element of security and serenity. That is what
the coronation of kings (see Melachim of duty and responsibility, and may gives us true joy.
Aleph 1 as an example). be destructive when human beings
are not worthy of it. That’s why
At Har Sinai, G-d’s Revelation is pref- many prophets describe the day of Rabbanit Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches
aced by the blowing of the shofar, and G-d as א ָ רֹונ ְ ו לֹודָּ ג – great and full of Tanach and is Content Editor for the
we can deduce that the sound of the awe, i.e. our contrasting emotions HaTanakh website.

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