A shofar is a ram’s horn that is blown like a trumpet during Rosh Hashanah services, every day except Shabbat during the preceding month of Elul, and at the end of Yom Kippur. The four sounds of the shofar — tekiah, shevarim, teruah, and tekiah gedolah — remind many people of a crying voice. Hearing the shofar’s call is a reminder for us to look inward and repent for the sins of the past year.
The shofar is created by hollowing out a ram’s horn, shaping it, and polishing it. It’s a tricky (and occasionally smelly) feat that doesn’t always end up the way you think it will. But it’s a rewarding task, nonetheless.
The shofar is evocative of the Torah portion that we read on Rosh Hashanah, the story of the binding of Isaac. It calls to mind the image of the ram stuck in the bush that Abraham ultimately sacrificed instead of his son — reflecting our own sometimes difficult parent-child relationship with God.
What makes a shofar kosher?
To be kosher, a shofar must be made from the horn of a kosher animal. Primarily, shofars are made from the horns of rams, goats and antelope. The ram is preferred as a reminder of the akedah, the biblical story read on Rosh Hashanah in which God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Horns of non-kosher animals cannot produce a kosher shofar. Although cows are kosher, their horns are also disqualified.
Structural damage, such as cracks or holes, also disqualifies a shofar — as does a blockage of the horn. It must be in good working order and even repairing holes and cracks with synthetic glues does not return a shofar to kosher status.
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A shofar is also supposed to be entirely natural. While it is acceptable to smooth and polish it — and people usually do — applying lacquers or decorative metal elements disqualifies the shofar. This is an increasingly common concern because Jews are not the only target market for shofars and non-Jewish consumers are not necessarily concerned with Jewish standards. If you are purchasing a shofar, it may come with kosher certification — usually in the form of a sticker.
Is the shofar blown on Shabbat?
The shofar is not supposed to be blown on Shabbat. You might imagine this prohibition is similar to the prohibition against playing other instruments on Shabbat. But in fact, the rule against blowing the shofar on Shabbat has more to do with the prohibitions against carrying items outside of the home on the day of rest. (Many of these prohibitions are discussed in Tractate Eruvin of the Talmud.) The shofar is a ritual object, and there are specific injunctions against carrying ritual objects outside between one’s home and the synagogue on Shabbat. So if Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, you will not hear the shofar blown on that day.
Where can one hear the shofar?
The most common place to hear the shofar is in synagogue. If you attend synagogue for the High Holidays, you’ll be guaranteed to hear the shofar blown when you are there for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. In some cities, especially those with large Jewish populations, you might be able to hear the shofar blown on street corners, or in public parks. These days, you can even hear the shofar blown online.
How was the shofar used through time?
In Jewish communities today, the shofar is most commonly blown on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and throughout the month of Elul that precedes those holidays. But the ram’s horn has had other roles throughout Jewish history. In ancient times, it was blown at every new moon and to announce jubilee years. It was also blown in military context (to marshal troops and during battle), when a new king was anointed and to announce fast days (of which there were many more than in modern times) — to name a few. Read more about the origins of the shofar here.
Read More About the Shofar
- A step-by-step guide for making your own shofar.
- A meditative essay: Turn the shofar on its side and it looks like a question mark — and its blast draws our attention to the most important question we can ask.
- Learn more about the different blasts of the shofar — and hear them as well.
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Rosh Hashanah
Pronounced: roshe hah-SHAH-nah, also roshe ha-shah-NAH, Origin: Hebrew, the Jewish new year.
Shabbat
Pronounced: shuh-BAHT or shah-BAHT, Origin: Hebrew, the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
shofar
Pronounced: sho-FAR or SHO-far, Origin: Hebrew, a ram’s horn that is sounded during the month of Elul, on Rosh Hashanah, and on Yom Kippur. It is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, in reference to its ceremonial use in the Temple and to its function as a signal-horn of war.
Torah
Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.
