D’var Torah by Rabbi Zischa Shaps
This Rosh Hashanah will clearly be different than any other we have experienced. For those
of us who do go to shul, it will be a shorter service with many less people in attendance.
Some will choose to only attend an outdoor service and others will choose to stay home.
The one part of the service that will not be different is the sound of the Shofar. Whether we
are in shul, in a tent or in a park at one of many Shofar blowing services that will be
happening this Sunday, it will be a ram’s horn sounding the same Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah
that have been heard by Jews across the world for thousands of years.
The Mitzvah of Shofar is to hear it. Not to blow the Shofar but to hear the specific sounds
of the Shofar. The sounding of the Shofar is designed to touch our very souls and to inspire
us to strengthen our connection with Hashem. Rabbi Saadya Gaon lists 10 different lessons
that the sounds of the Shofar teach us. These include a wake up call to remind us to review
our actions and make the necessary changes in our lives. We are also reminded of the
sounding of the Shofar by G-d himself at Mount Sinai and the ultimate blowing of the
Shofar that will herald the coming of Mashiach. In the Musaf service we recite verses from
the Bible referring to these two great shofrot of Jewish history. Rabbi Berel Wein refers to
these as the Shofar of Revelation and the Shofar of Redemption.
The question we have to ask ourselves is what are we hearing? Are we hearing a call to
look at our own lives and improve? Are we hearing the unwavering sound of the shofar at
Sinai that grew stronger as it went on? Does it remind us of the Torah that G-d has given us
and how Torah will keep us connected to our Judaism? Can we hear the sounds of change
that Hashem is orchestrating in Israel and the world? If we can’t hear it, are we listening?
Are we listening for the Shofar of Redemption that will herald the coming of Mashiach?
This year we have seen so many dramatic changes in the world. In addition to Covid-19,
we have experienced major changes in weather, in politics and even in Israel’s relations
with some of its neighbours. When the Shofar blows this Rosh Hashanah let us pay
extra attention and really hear the message.
Wishing you all a Shanah Tovah
Rabbi Zischa Shaps
