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Shofar                                                    Childrens Hand Crafting of a Shofar

What is a Shofar?A Shofar is long Rams horn used to proclaim Jewish ceremonial events. It is hollowed out and blown on one end similar to a trumpet. The Ibex is one the most popular rams horns. They usually appear conical with a spiral appearance.

According to the Talmud, a Shofar that is legal for ceremonial events must be at least three handbreadths long.

There are small Shofars that people sometimes use which are not really Shofars by Talmudic definition. To be accurate so you can use the generic term "Keren", which means "horn" in hebrew.

Where is the Shofar in the Bible?

The Shofar goes back far into biblical history. It is believed that the Shofar commemorates the Ram caught in the thicket by its horn (Hebrew: Keren).

The word "Shofar" can be found in the book of Joshua, chapter 6 in numerous places and in Judges, chapter 7.

Did the Levites use the Shofar in the temple then?

Not exactly. The horn used by the Levites is referred to in English as "The Silver Trumpets.". The Hebrew word is Chotzotzerah. The Chotzotzerah (plural: Chotzotzerot) where made of brass and silver overlaid on a mandrel and hammered into shape.

How are Shofars used today?

In the absence of the temple today, the Shofar is used instead of the Chotzotzerah to proclaim the Jewish high holy days. The holy day, "Rosh HaShannah" or New Year is also called Yom HaTeruah.

In many translations, this is referred to as the feast of the trumpets.

"Yom" means "Day", "Teruah" means to blow the trumpet or sound alarm.

According to tradition: The entire month (Elul) before Rosh HaShannah is reserved to blowing the Shofar (except for the last day. Think of it as a whole month of practice! The shofar is blown each morning. The month of Elul is also the time that people prepare themselves inwardly for the high holy days.

The day long fast of Yom Kippur is also ended at sundown with the Tekiah G'dollah shofar call.

The Shofar Calls The Shofar has four basic calls that have been handed down throughout the ages. These terms can be found in the scriptures at various points. The sequence we know today has been handed down as a tradition. There where probably other calls as well, but they have apparently become lost.

The names of the calls and description:

Tekiah - A Single medium length blast. Low-to-high pitch transition. Hard short push on low pitch, slight sustain on high pitch sometimes ended with a short pushing higher pitch burst.

Shevarim - Three blasts each low-to-high pitch sounded like triplets, think of Shevarim as being three short

Tekiahs without the short burst on the ends..

Teruah - Teruah consists of rapid single second pitch bursts in a staccato fashion. There should be nine or more bursts for make a Teruah.

Tekiah G'dollah - Similar to Tekiah, only the high note is sustained for the longest possible breath. Also ended with a violent short pushed out breath of an even higher pitched note.