Weekly Dvar Torah: The Great Shofar
On Rosh Hashana, we blow the Shofar as a central part of the service. According to the Rambam, the sound of the Shofar serves to awaken the soul, calling out to those who are asleep in a spiritual slumber to wake up and do Teshuva (repentance). The Shofar is a powerful symbol that has accompanied us throughout history, marking monumental events and spiritual awakenings. Each represent different levels in Shofar, with different effects.
The Shofar of Matan Torah: At Mount Sinai, when Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish people, the sound of the Shofar grew louder and stronger, signaling the divine presence and the holiness of the moment.
Shofar on Rosh Hashana: Today, we blow the Shofar in synagogues all over the world, wherever a Jew is able to perform this mitzvah. We sound 30 notes of the Shofar, but when Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbos, we do not blow the Shofar, except in the Beis Hamikdash (the Holy Temple), where it was sounded even on Shabbos.
The Shofar of Yovel (Jubilee Year): This Shofar was sounded to mark the 50th year, signaling freedom and release from servitude.
The Shofar of Neila on Yom Kippur: As we conclude the holiest day of the year, we sound one long, powerful blast of the Shofar, symbolizing the closing of the gates of heaven.
The Great Shofar (Shofar Gadol) of Moshiach: The prophet Yeshaya (Isaiah 27:13) speaks of a future time when a Great Shofar will be sounded. “On that day, a Great Shofar will be blown; those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were expelled in Egypt will come and worship G-d on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.”
The “lost” in Assyria (Ashur, rooted in the word for pleasure) represent those who strayed from G-d’s path, indulging in personal material pleasures.
The “expelled” in Egypt (Mitzrayim, rooted in the word for constraints) represent those who were persecuted and oppressed, prevented from serving G-d properly.
The sound of the Shofar has the power to awaken even these distant souls, even more than the Shofar at Sinai caused the nation to tremble. When Moshiach comes, the Great Shofar will awaken both those lost in indulgence and those trapped in pain, drawing them back to G-d.
The Great Shofar cannot be blown by an identifiable source; it comes from the highest G-dly level, which transcends names and descriptions. This sound will reach everyone, regardless of how far they have strayed or how oppressed they have been. Even those who are lost in their indulgences or expelled against their will, will be awakened by this Shofar, which resonates from the highest realms.
The process of blowing the Shofar itself holds deep meaning. We blow into the narrow end, and the sound comes out of the wide end. This reflects the teaching from the Talmud: a year that begins poor can end in abundance. When we are in a state of spiritual poverty, our prayers are deep and sincere, coming from the depth of our soul, just like a poor person crying out for help. These heartfelt prayers break through barriers and bring down blessings of abundance.
It’s worth noting that this teaching from the Talmud (Rosh Hashana 16b) is based on the verse in the Torah that speaks about the Holy Land of Israel (Devarim 11:12):
“It is a land which your G-d looks after all the time, and the Divine eye is upon it, from year’s beginning to year’s end.”
Rabbi Yitzchak explained: Any year that starts poor and troubled will be made rich at its end, as it is written, “From the beginning [mereishit] of the year,” using the word mereishit (written without an alef, signifying poverty). The verse continues: “And until the end [acḥarit] of the year,” indicating that the end will bring abundance.
This concept is linked to the land of Israel itself, showing that when this pattern unfolds, it is G-d’s clearest message to us about the future we are heading toward. This should fill us with hope, as we brace for the best ever New Year, culminating in the final redemption through Moshiach.
The Rebbe, after the Six Day War in Tishrei 5728 (1967), explained that the miraculous events of the war were themselves a sign of the Great Shofar beginning to sound. The Jewish people were awakening, as evidenced by a million Jews putting on Tefillin at the Kotel in the three months following the war. This awakening, the Rebbe taught, was a precursor to the ultimate sounding of the Great Shofar that will usher in the final redemption.
In light of the Rebbe’s teaching, we can see how in Israel the past year began narrow, with pain and challenges. Yet, in recent weeks, we have experienced a shift toward abundance and spiritual richness. There has been a strong awakening within the Jewish nation, with a clear return to G-d and Torah. We are moving closer to hearing the sound of the Great Shofar, which will bring redemption on all levels.
Have a True Awakening of a New Year in Redemption,
Gut Yomtov, Happy and Sweet New Year 5785
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
