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Ideally, we should not act in response shofar of the ram – and only the ram Avraham is a call to action based on the
to the shofar of negativity and affliction. – because it binds us to the actions of principle of limitless potential. When
Fortunately, there is a better shofar Avraham Avinu whose supreme love we hear the sound of the ram’s horn, it
to be used. The horn of any kosher and dedication for G-d became evident awakens us to aspire for growth, both
animal, if it can be hollowed out, is at akeidat Yitzchak (Rosh Hashanah 16a). individually and nationally. The call
suitable for the mitzvah of shofar. The On Rosh Hashanah, we model the of the ram’s shofar resonates in those
one who hears its sound is motivated shofar of idealism, of reaching for the who envision themselves in Avraham’s
by something much more positive: stars. One who hears the sounds of the shoes, journeying to a new place at
the desire to serve G-d, to be part of a ram’s horn is animated by a quest for G-d’s bidding, ascending a mountain,
community devoted to Torah and mitz- the best possible life. This is the shofar saying “hineni”, “here I am”.
vot. This shofar blast causes the Jew
to ask: Did I do enough to satisfy my blast that echoed through the gener- Of the three possible shofarot, to which
obligations? Have I minimally met the ations and inspired Ramban, Rabbi call will we respond?
demands placed on me by the Torah? If Yehuda HaLevi, Rav Ovadia MiBarten-
yes, I am completely satisfied. ura, the students of the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Steven Miodownik is the Rabbi of
and the disciples of the Ba’al Shem Tov Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland
The Jew who heeds the call of this to ascend to Eretz Yisrael. The shofar of Park, New Jersey.
shofar is animated by one question:
Is it good enough? But that motiva-
tion can produce religious paralysis,
as it does not lead to personal spiri-
tual growth and development. What
was “good enough” at age 20 may no
longer be “good enough” at age 40 or
50, for we have grown and matured
since our college years. Or maybe what
was “good enough” for my father or
mother should not necessarily be
“good enough” for me, due to differ-
ent circumstances of my upbringing.
An attitude of “good enough” produces
stagnation in Torah knowledge and
observance.
The “good enough” Jew also exhibits
selective aspirations, because “good
enough” does not satisfy him in other
areas of life. He does not accept “good
enough” when striving for a promo-
tion at work, choosing a doctor or
ordering an expensive steak at a
fancy restaurant. “Good enough” is
only good enough when it comes
to religion.
But there is a third and final
shofar whose cries we can
choose to hear. The pre-
ferred shofar of redemp-
tion is the Divine call
that awakens and
inspires us with the
excitement and
electricity of being
selected by G-d to
receive a unique
and special
mission on
Earth. This
is the
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