{"id":82,"date":"2009-09-02T16:36:17","date_gmt":"2009-09-02T13:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shofarot-israel.com\/?page_id=82"},"modified":"2018-03-19T19:15:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T16:15:58","slug":"israeliculture","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.shofarot-israel.com\/index.php\/the-shofar\/israeliculture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shofar in Israeli Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Brief Review<\/h2>\n

Blowing the Shofar is an inseparable part of the atmosphere of The Days of Awe and The Jewish High Holidays.<\/p>\n

The High Holidays\u2019 climax is Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is also called \u201cYom Teruah\u201d, (the day of blowing the Shofar), as we find in the book of Numbers (29:1):<\/p>\n

And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no manner of servile work; it is a day of blowing the horn unto you.<\/p>\n

In Ancient Times<\/h2>\n

In Biblical times the Shofar had several other uses. When the Temple still existed, Shofar blowing was performed on holidays and merry days ( Numbers 10:10):<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed seasons, and in your new moons, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The commencement of Shabbat was announced with Shofars, and with Shofars the beginning of the months and of the fiftieth year jubilee (Yovel) were marked. Also the Torah was given to the constantly growing sound of the Shofar, and the walls of Jericho fell with the blowing of Shofars.<\/p>\n

Kings were crowned to the sound of Shofars and with Shofars the people were summoned for wars, were warned from dangers and learnt about victories in battle. Moves undertaken by the people's army were accompanied with Shofar blowing. The reason for that was frequently the strong sound that could be produced from a Shofar.<\/p>\n

In the prayers we say: \u201cAnd a great Shofar will sound, and the voice of thin silence shall be heard, and angels shall rush, and awe and fear shall grasp them, and they shall say this is the Day of Judgment\u2026\u201c<\/p>\n

Since the Temple was destroyed and the Sanhedrin abolished, the Shofar remained for fulfilling the commandments on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In some communities the Shofar is blown also during the days of Selihot and fasting.<\/p>\n

In the history of the State of Israel<\/h2>\n

The Shofar played important roles on special occasions in the history of the State of Israel:<\/p>\n