Children’s Shofar Factory Comes to Southern NJ

Chabad of Gloucester County gave children a hands-on lesson about the Jewish new year Sunday afternoon with a demonstration that taught children how to make their own shofars.

From NJ.com:

The shofar, a musical instrument made of a ram’s horn, is an iconic symbol of the Jewish high holidays. The horns, which vary in size and decoration, are often prominently displayed in synagogues and homes around Rosh Hashanah. The goal behind the workshop, according to Rabbi Avi Richler, was to instill the tradition of what is usually a solemn holiday in the children of the congregation.

Rosh Hashanah is usually a reflective period during which adult observers carefully consider their experiences and decisions of the past year. But that does not mean it has to go over the heads of younger Jews, said Richler.

“High holidays are often synonymous with synagogues and prayer,” he said, which can sometimes mean the observance makes no impression on small children. “We want to make this memorable for them. We can pass on the traditions by making them ask questions. That’s what stays with them.”

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