Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah

The Sound of the Shofar: Its Four Meanings

Last night at sundown, Jews around the world observed Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year, and the beginning of the Ten Days of Awe, leading into the fall feasts.

Rosh Hashanah is a time of realigning, a time to reset and start again. Rosh Hashanah is followed by Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, September 19.

Throughout these holy days, the shofar plays an important part in these fall feasts.

It is blown four different times and each time is for a different purpose.

The first shofar is blown on the first morning of Rosh Hashanah and it is a call to AWAKEN our hearts to the Lord.

The second shofar is blown on the second morning of Rosh Hashanah and it is a call to RETURN to the Lord.

The third Shofar is blown on Yom Kippur and it is a call to REPENT.

The fourth Shofar is blown to begin the Feast of Tabernacles and it is a call to REJOICE.

Let us each set our hearts to "hear" the sounds of the four shofars, and to move through these next ten days accordingly: from AWAKENING, to RETURNING to the Lord, to REPENTANCE, and to REJOICING at the goodness of our God.

Shalom . . . shalom . . . shalom . . . and amen!

Shana Tova!