Shofar IS a Musical Insturment

The literature on shofar debates whether it is an instrument suitable for musical use, or simply an untuned noisemaker for use as a signalling device. Anyone who has heard David Zasloff on horn knows that shofar has a remarkable tonal range and can be a very expressive musical instrument.

David is a professional musician, performer, and comedian. I highly recommend his show, Shofar Palooza, A Hysterical, Historical, Musical Celebration of Judaism, for synagogue audiences and wherever Jews want to have a good time.

While the educational presentations I offer about shofar may be entertaining, David offers entertainment that is also educational and inspiring.

The Shofar of Peace

Following Israel' attack on Gaza war this year, a military military rabbi was quoted by The Times saying, “It’s a holy war to protect women and children from the south of the country after a long period of endurance on our side. The commander of the battalion asked me to blow the shofar every time before going into the fighting. I’m blowing the shofar while 500 soldiers stand behind me praying. They went in wrapped in holiness.”

The use of the shofar in this manner is in the biblical tradition of blowing the shofar in the attack against Jericho in the book of Joshua and the attack against the Middianite in the book of Judges.

But please, let us not forget that the shofar has also been sounded historically to announce a truce. The Torah also tell us, "'Must the sword devour forever? You know how bitterly it’s going to end! How long will you delay ordering your troops to stop the pursuit of their kinsmen?’ …Joab then sounded the horn, and all the troops halted; they ceased their pursuit of Israel and stopped the fighting.” (II Samuel 2:26-28)

The war between Israel and Palestine now is just as fratricidal as the war then between Israel and Judah.

May the time not be distant, when the shofar of peace is sounded for all.

So Far, Too Much

There is growing appreciation of shofar among many Christians. One, however, has blogged that blowing shofar in church whenever the spirit calls can frustrate worship leaders (and, we presume, other worshipers).

The posting states, "Some of you may not know this, especially if you are from a more conservative background, but in our movement shofars are popular. Often at special events in the middle of a silent moment, somebody will decide to blow the shofar. If you have ever heard a shofar you know that they are in a weird key and clash with the music. When you blow it during a song or quiet interlude it is the most distracting thing!"

He concludes, "Also, I have never met a great shofar player." If the author wants to hear a great shofar player, I invite him to attend almost any synagogue on Rosh Hashanah. There, he will discover that, if the kavanah - intention of the shofar blower and the focus of the listener are in tune with fulfilling the mitzvah - commandment to hear shofar, "all sounds of the shofar are acceptable" as it says in Talmud.

Mystical Connection of Shofar on Shavuot and Yovel

There is a beautiful podcast on the mystical meanings of the shofar that was heard at Mount Sinai and the shofar that announces the Jubilee year. It answers the questions, posted by Ari Goldwag: "Did you ever look for the deeper meaning of the shofar? Did you ever think about why it was blown at Har Sinai and will be blown when Moshiach comes? Did you notice the parallel between the count to Yovel and Sefiras ha'omer? Why do we blow it on Yovel, and what is its significance on Rosh Hashana?"

Shofar Hero - Online Game

I know a young person who became a passably good guitarist playing the Guitar Hero video game. I doubt anyone will become a good shofar player from the similar game, "Shofar Hero," but at least you can have a bit of fun with the game and express a Jewish identity while engaging in online play. Tee shirts and other branded paraphernalia are also available.

Shofar on Shavuot?

It would seem appropriate to sound shofar on Shavuot, the anniversary of the giving of Torah. After all, we heard the shofar blow long as we stood at Sinai.

However, many Jews hold that one should not work on the Festivals, a prescription extended through round-about rabbinic thinking, to blowing shofar. Even though blowing shofar is not "work," the concern is that one might carry the shofar or teach shofar, activities that are considered work. So we build a fence around sounding shofar to protect Torah.

We also confront this issue when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat. Torah tells us both to keep the sabbath and to remember the sabbath. It also tells us Rosh Hashanah is a day to both hear shofar and to remember shofar. These commandment can be compiled as follows.

Keep Shabbat → Remember Shofar
Remember Shabbat ← Blow Shofar

My minhag - tradition - is to hear shofar on Shavuot. For those who respect the tradition of not blowing shofar on the Festivals, remember to remember shofar on Shavuot, the shofar we all heard at Mount Sinai.

Shofar and the Counting of the Omer

There is a parallelism between the 49-day cycle of counting the Omer (between the second day of Passover and Shavuot, the anniversary of receiving Torah ) and the 49-year cycle leading to the Yovel (Jubilee year). Torah was received amidst blasts of shofar, and start of Yovel is announced by sounding shofar.