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The
Shofar
by Rabbi Michael Unger
There are many reasons why we blow shofar on
the New Year. So many of us take time before services to read about this
particular commandment and its customs. Then when we listen to the shofar
we try to remember all the thoughts we prepared for the event. I would
suggest that for those who find it hard to remember so many things during
this important once-a-year event, to prepare one very simple thought: That Hashem is the King of the world and has commanded us to
hear the shofar blasts.
It is quite rare for the gemorrah
to refuse to receive a question. I am so used to the gemorrah's
question/answer format that when I saw the following in Talmud Rosh Hashana 16a, I stopped and wondered what in the world
is wrong with the question! Here it is:
Question 1: R' Abahu
says why do we blow a RAM'S horn?
Answer: HaKadosh
Baruch Hu says: Blow before me from a RAM'S horn
so that I will remember the Akeda of Yitzchak son
of Avraham and I will consider as if you
yourselves were willing to be a sacrifice for me.
Question 2: R' Yitzchak says why do we blow on
Rosh Hashana?
Answer: Why do we blow? The Torah says to blow!
Corrected Question: Rather why do we do T'kia and Shevarim while
sitting and then again while standing?
Answer: To fool the Satan.
I always felt there was something deep going on
here. And you know what? I found that in the Rambam's
Hilchos T'shuva there
is the exact same problem! Look there in chapter 3 halachoh
4: "Even though blowing shofar on Rosh Hashana
is a decree of the scriptures, there is a hint in it: i.e. wake up from
your sleep and drowsers wake up from your
drowsiness and search your deeds and return in repentance and remember your
creator. Those of you who forget the truth in the futility of time and
indulge all year in nonsense and emptiness that won't help in the
slightest, look into your souls and improve your ways and your actions and
each one should forsake his evil ways and no-good thoughts." What does
the Rambam mean "Even though blowing shofar
on Rosh Hashana is a decree of the scriptures,
there is a hint in it"? There is no other passage like it! He never
wrote: Even though putting on tefillin is a
decree of the scriptures, there is a hint in it. He never wrote: Even
though Shabbos is a decree of the scriptures,
there is a hint in it. This is the only place the Rambam
apologizes for giving a reason for something! How interesting that in this
very law of blowing shofar the gemorrah refused
to listen to the question and the Rambam
apologizes for answering!
I think I know why! Rosh Hashana
is the day when Hashem created the world and
began to rule over it. And every year we are to crown Him once again and
proclaim that He is our King and that we are ready to fulfill His
commandments. Now we all now that when we learn about the various
commandments we study them in great depth in order to understand each one
as much as possible. But what does it mean to study Making Hashem king over us? Hashem
is king and commanded us to proclaim it on Rosh Hashana
by blowing shofar. Is there something here to study? The whole concept of
"king" is that we must do what he says, whether we like it or
not, whether we understand it or not. So what do we gain by thinking about
this particular commandment? We will enjoy it more after understanding it?
Or maybe we will be afraid of the sounds when we find out how important
they are? Chazal knew that we are to blow shofar
with one thing in mind: the kings word must be
fulfilled! Don't start with explanations like "on the one hand..., on
the other hand..." or other thoughts that will sidetrack us from the
real subject: Do what the king told us to do!
Now we see why not to dwell on the question
"Why blow shofar on Rosh Hashana". And
how understandable of the Rambam's words
"Even though blowing shofar on Rosh Hashana
is a decree of the scriptures. "This gives us a very
simple Kevannah while listening to shofar: Hashem is king and therefore we must listen to the
voice of the shofar to prove that we are his servants. May the service of Hashem on the New Year provide us with the spiritual
strength to fulfill His commandments all year round.
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