What is the Shofar?  The Shofar is a ram's horn, which is blown
throughout the month of Elul and on Rosh HaShanah. Its sound is meant to arouse us to do
Teshuvah.
The Shofar also serves as a reminder of the ram which was "caught by its horns in the bush." (Bereshit {Genesis} 22, 12) As the Torah recounts, G-d brought this ram to Avraham, who was at the time
demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice his son, Yitzchak, as G-d had commanded him. At
the last moment, G-d made this ram appear, "caught by its horns in the bush, "
and told Avraham to sacrifice the ram rather than his son Yitzchak - thus teaching Avraham
the concept of Divine mercy. |
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The Shofar is an eternal symbol, which we ask G-d to "remember" in our behalf, for the act of Avraham, known as Akeidat Yitzchak (the "binding" of Yitzchak, as if for a sacrifice) represented the greatest height to which a human being can rise. With the blowing of the Shofar we ask that just as Avraham suppressed his natural feelings of mercy towards his son, G-d suppress His attribute of Strict Justice which would require the inflicting of deserved punishment upon us. The Shofar also represents "majesty." It was blown when G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish People at Mount Sinai, and will be sounded again upon the arrival of the Mashiach. Learning about Your Elul Clock
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