What Is It? How Did It Become Such an Important Part of Jewish Tradition?
It’s typically a loud and mournful sound, one unmatched in nature. The shofar, a musical instrument forged from a ram’s horn, has long been an integral part of Jewish lore and tradition. What were it’s origins? What’s so unique about the instrument? When is it commonly used in Jewish culture?
What Is a Shofar?
A shofar is a sound-producing instrument that typically uses a ram’s horn, though the Talmud allows a shofar to be constructed from the horn of any animal in the Bovidae species, except for a cow. While the vast majority of shofars are built from ram’s (male sheep) horns, goats and other animals may be used, particularly in Africa, where the kudu (antelope) is fairly common.
To make a shofar, all bone and flesh must be removed from the horn, leaving only the hollowed-out keratin, a substance typically found in nails, hair and the epidermis (outer layer of skin). The application of heat to the horn tends to soften it, allowing for the modification into a sound-producing instrument. Most importantly, a hole must be created at or near the tip of the horn.
The shofar may come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the animal chosen. There is no requirement that that animal from which the horn was taken be ritually slaughtered or that the animal be kosher.
To generate sound, a person playing a shofar must blow into the horn while vibrating his or her lips. Some shofars will have a carved mouthpiece, but many do not. Because the shofar has no holes, valves or other pitch-changing features, the only way to produce different tones is to change one’s embouchure, the shape one’s mouth takes when blowing into the instrument. Because the shofar does not have a regular shape, the sound produced will often be unique for each one and will typically vary based on who is actually blowing it.
When Was the Shofar Used in Ancient Times?
The shofar is commonly referenced in Jewish writings, from the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud to the rabbinic literature. Perhaps the most well-known use of the instrument was when its blast from a thick cloud on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19) caused the Israelites to tremble.
Scholars also document the use of the shofar to:
- Announce a new moon
- Celebrate a “jubilee” year, traditionally every 50th year, where certain debts could be forgiven and indentured servants could secure release
- The first day of Rosh Hashana, also known as the “day of blowing”
- The end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, as a call for sacrifice and repentance
- The start of a war
It’s important to note that the shofar may not be blown on Shabbat, as it is considered a ritual object. Jewish law prohibits carrying ritual objects outside the home during Shabbat.
In modern times, while the shofar is most often used in conjunction with Rosh Hashanah, it is blown every morning during the month of Elui.
Can Anyone Blow the Shofar?
There are a few restrictions on who may be a ba’al tokeah, the person blowing the shofar, known as the “master of the blast.” Women may not blow the shofar for men but may blow the shofar for other women. Any Jewish male may serve as a ba’al tokeah, provided he is acceptable to the congregation. A person who is a slave may not blow the shofar.
What Are the Different Horn Blasts from a Shofar?
There are traditionally four different types of tantaras associated with a shofar:
- One long loud blast, known as a tekiah, commonly used for calling people to attention
- Nine or more staccato bursts to signify the beginning of a new year
- Three broken blasts, which typically sound like cries, which represent a call for mercy and forgiveness
- The tekiah gedolah, a great single blast sounded at the end of the Rosh Hoshanah service
Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit—Serving the Jewish Community for More than 125 Years
At Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit, with funeral chapels in New York and Florida, we have worked closely with individuals and families for more than five generations, handling all matters related to funeral and burial services. Because of our longstanding service to the Jewish community, we are familiar with the different customs within each tradition and can offer assistance and guidance on any matter of concern, from the arrangement of the memorial service to the selection of a casket or monument, from the details of sitting Shiva to the preparation of a Yahrzeit calendar. We also work directly with the Chevra Kadisha, so that you know that the body has been properly prepared according to Jewish law prior to burial.
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