Rosh Hashanah Shofar

In ancient times the shofar was sounded to announce a new month. The horn of a ram is most often used for making a shofar because it is much like the story of the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, an event which, according to tradition, is believe to have happened on Rosh Hashanah.

There are three types of shofar blasts that we hear during Rosh Hashanah.

 

 

Tekiah – One long blast of the Shofar

 

 

 

Shevarim – 3 short blasts of the Shofar

 

 

 

Teruah – 9 short fast blasts of the Shofar

 

Before the Shofar is blown a special blessing is said:

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha-olam, asher kid-shanu bemizvotav vetzivanu lishmo’ah kol shofar.

I praise G-d, who is King and Ruler over all, who commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar.