This holiday, Rosh Hashanah, is also called Feast of
Trumpets because the blowing of the shofar is the focus. We also make
the challah round on this holiday as a reminder that the time has come
around once again for us to refocus our lives on ADONAI. The cycle
begins and we rejoice that we have lived another year and look forward to the year ahead, which is 5785.
During the service at the synagogue, there are 100
notes blown on the shofar. Below is a video so that you can hear how it
sounds. The chanting by the rabbi tells the musician how many times to
blow the shofar. The last note is very long. I am
amazed at how long the one in the video continued, because blowing the
shofar is not easy, and blowing it for 100 notes is even harder. To
have the breath to end like that is great. Thank you to Youtube for this:
The shofar blasts are a call to repentance and prayer
and a reminder to be in awe of our Holy G-d. Thus, the time between
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as The Ten Days of Awe.
For
the ten days, we take time to reflect on our lives and ask G-d to
reveal any hidden sins. We also ask Him to show us if any relationships
need to be mended. If so, we go to that person and ask forgiveness.
It is a solemn time of humbling ourselves before Him.
