Rosh HaShana is referred to in Torah as Yom Teruah – the Day of Sounding the shofar – or Yom ha Zikkaron – the Day of remembering. Not called Rosh HaShana – the New Year – until Talmudic times.
Leviticus 23:23-25—
on the first day of the seventh month – Tishri
a day of rest
a remembrance with shofar blasts
a holy convocation
no laborious work
a sacrifice by fire
a day of rest as a positive commandment.
The only recorded observance of the Feast of Trumpets is mentioned in Ezra 3:1-6 Ezra the scribe related that it was during the Feast of Trumpets that the Temple alter was rebuilt, and sacrifices were reinstituted by those who returned from the Babylonian exile.
What are we remembering?
“Awake, you sleepers, from your sleep!
Arise you slumberers, from your slumber!
Repent with contrition!
Remember your Creator!
Peer into your souls, improve your ways and your deeds.”
(Hil. Teshuvah 2:3)
The Shofar
The shofar has always had a special place for the Hebrew people.
it is necessary for us to see how trumpets were used:
(a) It was sounded to bring Moses to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the commandments (Ex.19:19-20); First time Trumpet is mentioned in the Bible
Our creator
And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moshe spoke, and G-d answered him by voice, then the L-rd came down upon Mount Sinai,”
(Exodus 19:18-29.) Presence of G-d.
(b) It was a signal during time of war (Judg.3:27); Our creator
His protection even in times of war. His winning the battle for us. Jericho
(d) It was blown during coronation services of a new King (Lev.25:9); Our creator establishes those in authority while he is the most high king
(e) It was a sign of the regathering of dispersed Israel (Isa.27:13); Our creator
Will gather all his people to the land of promise
(f) It was sounded as a warning of danger (Amos 3:6); and Our creator
Wishes us to look out for each other during times of danger and not leave any stragglers behind
(g) It will be sounded in anticipation of the day of the arrival of the Messiah (Zec.9:14).
Ancient Jewish tradition held that the resurrection of the dead would occur on Rosh Hashanah.
(h) Why a ram’s horn? Sacrifice. The Ram was often used for sacrifice. Rememberance of G-d’s intervention of the sacrifice of Issac.
Types of Trumpet blasts. There was much debate after the destruction of the temple as there is not a specific description of the type of blasts to be used. The following pattern was developed:
Tekiah – One long blast and call to attention and worship
Shevarim – Three short broken blasts, call to repentance and mourning
Teruah – Nine short staccato blasts, a call to action or war
Tekiah – One long blast and a call to attention and worship.
