Sponsored by Vicky Wu
in Memory of JJ Greenberg z”l on his 11th Yahrzeit.
Eleven years passed,
JJ’s memories continue to be a source of strength and inspiration to our daily
Jewish life in
and wherever we are.
Every Thursday morning throughout the year we say the
following words from Tehilim 81:4-5 “Tiku Bachodesh Shofar, Bakeseh Layom
Chagenu Ki Chok L’Yisrael Hu Mishpat L’Elokei Yaakov”, “Blow the Shofar at the
moon’s renewal, at the time of the hiding of the moon for our festive day
because it is a decree for Israel, a judgment day for the God of Jacob.”
On Rosh HaShana, these verses are recited in the evening
before Maariv as well as during the Shofarot section of the Musaf service. We
also recite these words at Kiddush each day of Rosh HaShana.
These words teach us that we are required to blow the shofar
on Rosh HaShana which is observed at the time of the renewal of the moon,
unlike most other holidays which are observed in the middle of the month.
We learn in the Gemara in Rosh HaShana 26a that since
blowing the Shofar on Rosh HaShana is for the purpose of effecting a favorable
remembrance of
God, it is equivalent to a service performed inside the Kodesh HaKodashim of
the Beit HaMikdash (Holy of Holies in the
According to Ritva, Even though the shofar is not brought
into the Kodesh HaKodashim, it is the vehicle through which
prayers are transported before God.
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik explains that this Gemara
teaches us that the shofar transports our ordinary surroundings into the
holiest of environments where one can perceive God’s revelation.
Although we don’t have the Beit HaMikdash today, the blowing
of the shofar on Rosh HaShana gives us the unique opportunity to become closer
to God and helps take our prayers to a higher level.
We pray that just as the shofar proclaimed God’s arrival at
the Mashiach arrives and then we will celebrate the holidays together in the
Third Beit HaMikdash in Yerushalayim.
