What is the significance of the shofar?
The Shofar is a horn, usually made from a ram’s horn that is used in Jewish religious rituals. Shofar-blowing is a tradition of synagogue services during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The importance of shofar in religious services is immense. It has been in use since the Biblical times when it was used to declare holidays, the Jubilee year, as a musical instrument and the start of a war. In modern days shofar is still used as a musical instrument but most prominently in religious rituals. Shofar-blowing is an essential part of the rituals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It marks the end of fast during Yom Kippur and is blown on four different occasions during Rosh Hashanah.
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The sound of the shofar (ram’s horn) was heard on many important occasions in Biblical times. At Rosh Hashanah it is blown to signal the start of Yamin Noraim (the Days of Awe) and to warn people to reflect on their deeds and ask forgiveness from God. Its sound at the end of the service signifies the end of this period.
