Miles Goldstein of Am Kohel

The Shofar, a well know symbol of Rosh Hashanah, is one of the earliestinstruments used in Jewish music. Usually made from a ram's horn, it isthe one musical instrument that has been sustained in practice fromancient times. In Biblical times the Shofar was blown to announce animportant event, such as the alarm of war or the Junibilee Year. TheShofar was also sounded during the greatest event in all Jewishhistory, the giving of the Torah-Revelation to Moses at Mount Sinai(Shavuot).

The blowing of the Shofar is the only specificcommandment for Rosh Hashanah. Just as trumpeters announced thepresence of their mortal king, the Shofar is used by Jews to proclaimthe coronation of the King of Kings. The ram's horn is blown 100 times.When the Shofar is sounded we pray that our prayers for peace, justiceand redemption be carried throughout the world.