The shofar, usually made from a ram’s horn, is one of Judaism’s oldest ritual instruments. Mentioned over 70 times in the Tanach, it was sounded at Mount Sinai, in battle, and during sacred gatherings.
On Rosh Hashanah, it serves as a spiritual wake-up call, reminding us to return, reflect, and reset for the year ahead.
Even without knowing the halachic meaning, people describe the shofar’s tone as haunting, urgent, and raw.
Psychologists suggest its impact comes from:
Primal frequency range: Humans instinctively respond to sounds between 250–500 Hz, the shofar often falls here.
Unstructured tone: Lacking the clean note of a trumpet, it feels more natural, like a cry.
Cultural conditioning: Generations of hearing it on the High Holy Days link the sound to reflection and renewal.
The symbolism doesn’t stop at the shape. For Rosh Hashanah, challah often gets an upgrade in flavour:
Brushed with honey glaze
Sprinkled with raisins for extra sweetness
Served alongside apple slices for dipping
It’s the edible version of a New Year’s greeting card.
What Halacha Says About the Shofar’s Shape & Sound
Jewish food traditions are rarely just about taste. In many communities, baking round challahs is part of a larger spiritual preparation, a way of expressing hopes for the year ahead through something tangible, warm, and shareable.
It’s a reminder that rituals aren’t just in the synagogue, they’re also in our kitchens.
The Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 3:2) outlines the basic rules:
Can’t be cracked or plated with metal
Must be blown from the narrow end
The sound, not the beauty of the horn, is what matters
Interestingly, some poskim note that even a faint, imperfect note can fulfil the mitzvah if heard with kavana (intent).
Acoustic researchers at Israel’s Technion University have analysed shofar blasts with high-speed sound imaging.
They found:
While the mitzvah is fulfilled in shul, many families keep a shofar as a symbol year-round, for teaching children, starting learning sessions, or simply as a reminder of renewal.
Sabeny offers Rosh Hashanah essentials and UK delivery, so your table, and your holiday – is fully prepared.
Keywords: shofar Rosh Hashanah meaning, shofar sound science, why blow shofar, shofar history UK, Jewish New Year traditions
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