WHO WILL HEAR?
Every morning in Elul the Shofar is sounded.
The Shofar is sounded every morning.
The morning service is prayed and the ram's horn is blown.
It sits patiently waiting its turn. But who will hear?
Tekia - Shavarim - Teruah - Tekia.
A long blast. Three short blasts. Nine staccato blasts. A long blast.
The Rabbi put the Shofar to his lips so that others will hear.
But the sanctuary is empty save a few sweet souls seeking to help others say Kaddish. The Mitzvah is to hear, but who will hear?
The Rabbi explains why the Shofar is blown. It reminds us of the need to review our lives. It reminds us of the sanctity of the High Holy Days. It reminds us of the Shofar that was sounded at Mount Sinai when the Torah was received. It reminds us of the ram whose horns got stuck in the thicket when Abraham came close to sacrificing Isaac. It reminds us that our tradition has something to say; it is full of wise words, and we should be listening.
They nod in understanding these gentle few. But there are so few.
Who will hear?
The Shofar sits on the Bimah and casts a long shadow. But a shadow cannot be grasped and it cannot be sounded.
A child walks in. The Shofar sounds.
Tekia - Shavarim - Teruah - Tekia.
A long blast. Three short blasts. Nine staccato blasts. A long blast.
The Mitzvah is to hear the Shofar. A child hears it. The Shofar is heard.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay