Guest Column: The Sound of the Shofar

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Rabbi Levi Cunin / Special to The Malibu Times

The rituals of Judaism are filled with deep meaning. In fact, in recent years with the Kabbalah and the esoteric teachings of Chabad, the soul behind Jewish ritual has been made available more than ever before.

Those of you who have experienced the sound of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah know there is something very moving about the time when the Shofar is blown. We may not have the words to describe the feeling, but so many people, many of whom are not practicing Jews, have come to me throughout the years to tell me about their moving experience during the time the Shofar is blown.

The sound of the Shofar resembles the simple sound that emanates from the heated air of the heart and lungs. We use this sound to form our words.

We are so accustomed to expressing our thoughts and feelings in words that we do not consider the expression that emanates from our simple sound. A few weeks ago my wife and I were blessed with a newborn baby boy. A child’s first sense of expression is in their crying. As parents, the sound of crying moves us into immediate action, we are not sure exactly what the child wants but we feel how bad they want it. The sound of crying is a language that transcends the power of words.

When we cry, we are expressing a part of self that cannot be articulated in words. Crying from self-pity is one type of expression, but there is also a cry that is an expression from deep within our hearts that moves us to take action. This cry is described in the teachings of Kabbalah as a breakthrough that carries the possibility of hope and renewal.

It is for this reason that it is a Mitzvah to listen to the call of the Shofar the day of the Jewish New Year. The Torah says that this is the day that Adam and Eve were created. Like our personal birthdays, it is on this day when we think about the past year and make new goals for the coming one.

The simple sound of the Shofar is a reminder that there is a part of our beings that wants and needs to be heard. This sound cannot be expressed in words. This sound gives us the possibility of expressing a new set of “words.” Words like hope, connection, light and positivity are all possibilities in the sound before it becomes a word.

This past year has been a very difficult one for our country. As we prepare for a new energy in this universe, we pray that the simple sound that resonates in the living souls of all humanity be heard within the words of our collective consciousness. Surely this sound within us carries the possibility of true peace on earth.

You are welcome to join us at Chabad to hear the sound of the Shofar. For more information regarding the High Holidays please visit us at www.jewishmalibu.com. May you and yours be blessed for a year of health, wealth and true content.