Ten Reasons to Blow Shofar

This list was compiled by the 10th century sage, Rabbi Saadia Gaon.

1. The Shofar is like the trumpet which announces the coronation of a king. That is why it is used on Rosh Hashanah, the birthday of the universe. At that time we accept God's Rulership. Our prayers and shofar blasts are like the coronation ceremony in which Israel crowns God as Sovereign.

2. The Shofar calls us to examine our deeds and return to God, who will always accept us if we are sincere.This is why we blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashana which is the first of the Ten Days of Repentence.

3. The Shofar reminds us of the Shofar which blew when the Torah was given at Sinai; thus we are reminded to study and cherish the God's Word.

4. The Shofar reminds us of the voice of the prophets, whose voices rang out like a Shofar blast in calling the people to do justice and mercy and follow Holy ways.

5. The Shofar sounds like crying, which reminds us of the destruction of the ancient Temple, and thus calls upon us to work for and pray for redemption.

6. The Shofar, since it is a ram's horn, reminds us of the binding of Isaac, when God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. Thus we are called upon to be as faithful to God as Abraham, and be inspired by his example of sacrifice and love of God.

7. The Shofar calls us to be humble- its mighty blast reminds us of the mightiness of God and the fact that God is everywhere at all times.

8. On the Day of Judgment, a Shofar will be blown to announce God's Rulership- our Shofar blasts remind us to prepare for God's examination of our deeds.

9. The Shofar foreshadows the jubilant return to freedom and peace when we all end up in Jerusalem in the time of Messiah- it reminds us to have hope and faith in God's saving power.

10. The Shofar will be blown in Messianic times to announce the redemption of the whole world, when all nations will recognize that God is One.