Upon the arrival of
the Yovel, Jubilee year, the Torah commands us: �You shall sound a
broken blast on the shofar, in the seventh month, on the tenth of
the month, on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the shofar
throughout the land.� The Gemorah in Rosh HaShana 34B asks why the
Torah mentions again here that Yom Kippur is in the seventh month.
The Gemorah answers, to teach us that all the laws of Shofar blowing
of the seventh month are equal. The sounds of Yom Kippur of Yovel
are the same as Rosh HaShana of each and every year.
It is interesting to note the fact that a Yovel year is specifically
introduced by the sound of the Shofar. What is further interesting
to note is all the times the we sound the Shofar. The Gemorah in
Shabbos 35b describes how they blew Shofar six times on Erev Shabbos
to help alert the people to welcome in the Shabbos. Of course the
other time is Rosh HaShana where the Torah says that �it should be a
day of shofar sounding for you�. The question is, what do all these
times have in common and why is the Shofar the essential component
of these Mitzvot?
If we understand the role that the Shofar plays in our lives, we can
begin to appreciate its appearance at certain times. The Sefer
HaChinuch in Mitzvah 331 explains the unique ability of the Shofar
to awaken the hearts and minds of the people to focus on that which
is right. As the Rambam in the Laws of Teshuvah writes, the purpose
of the Shofar is to awaken the souls, in the month of Elul, of the
impending Judgment that arrives on Rosh HaShana causing a major
return to the appropriate path. This is necessary as well during the
Yovel year, as the Masters are obligated to free the slaves, a task
which is very difficult, in their eyes. When he hears the sound of
the Shofar, he is reminded that despite the negative feelings the
Master might have of his impending loss, it creates a sense that we
are all in this together, and instead of feeling bad, the Shofar
gives him a sense of pride that I belong to a special nation. The
Gemorah tells us further that our atonement is achieved by blowing
the shofar of a ram, a reminder to G-d of the Akedah. When He thinks
of the great sacrifice our forefathers were willing to make, He
instantly forgives our sins.
Each and every Shabbos used to begin with the sound of the Shofar.
Shabbos is the day that we focus on creation. After one reflects on
creation and realizes how wonderful the world around us is, we
celebrate Shabbos as a tribute to this idea. Once again, the sound
of the Shofar inspires us to these special thoughts. Shabbos is also
a day where we may feel that our lives are too restrictive, and we
might say, �why do I keep Shabbos?�. The Shofar sends that shockwave
through our body that I am part of a special nation who has such a
special day to commemorate my connection to my Creator. The Gemorah
tells us that Shabbos is a special gift that HaShem keeps hidden and
shares only with His people. It is only the sound of the shofar that
can send this message.
On Rosh HaShana we celebrate Man's creation. This is also the day
that HaShem evaluates His creation if they are worthy of living. We
pass before Him like sheep before their shepherd. It is also a day
which is set aside to declare the kingship of the Ribbono Shel Olam.
Like a king who is greeted by his trumpets, the King is greeted by
the Shofar. But this "trumpet� carries with it deep theological
implications. The Gemorah in Rosh HaShana tells us that the Shofar
is the carrier pigeon of our prayers, prayers that we desperately
need to reach the Heaven. Rav Goldvicht explains that the Shofar
represents our potential to reach the spiritual heights on Rosh
HaShana, demonstrating our endless pursuit and connection to our
Creator. Perhaps, that's why the Shofar of Yovel was particularly
sounded on Yom Kippur. We just went through a year where we
refrained from planting the ground. The Torah comes along and tells
us not to plant another year. Perhaps our spirit and faith is
challenged, �What! Another year, I can't do it! How can the Ribbono
Shel Olam expect that of me?� Until we come to the Bais HaMikdash on
Yom Kippur, stand with awesome anticipation of the success of the
Kohen Gadol, Bais Din declares that we should blow the Shofar. Now I
realize that HaShem has a plan that I must obey and once again I am
inspired to a year where the focus is spirituality, another
opportunity to come closer to HaShem. This is the message that is
inherent in all of these occasions that we blow Shofar.
Based on the above, we can understand two more occasions that we
speak about the Shofar, the Shofar of Mt. Sinai and the Shofar of
Mashiach. It is clear why there was a Shofar sound at Mt. Sinai and
why we hear the great Shofar in the future. Receiving the Torah
meant that the Jewish people stand head and shoulders above the
other nations. While the other nations are involved in idolatry the
sound of the Shofar means we recognize our Creator and why the world
was created, for the sake of Torah. We never asked what is in the
Torah but as strong as the sound of the Shofar was, so is our
resolve to live a Torah way of life with the Ribbono Shel Olam as
our King.
In the future, the Navi tells us that we will blow the great Shofar
and all those that are far away will be gathered in, both physically
and spiritually. Those that have moved far away will be awakened by
the awesome sound of the Shofar and return to serve HaShem with a
complete heart. It is this day that we hope and pray for, speedily
in our days.
Based on a sicha given by Rav Meir Goldvicht.
