4. What is that Funny Looking Horn all About?
Another tradition observed on Rosh Hashanah (and Yom Kippur, the holiday that follows 10 days later) is the sounding of the shofar, which is one of the world’s oldest wind instruments. A shofar is made from the horn of a ram, and it is curved and bent, symbolizing the Jewish people’s humility as we ask for forgiveness before heading into the New Year. The horn is sounded during religious ceremonies in three different sounds, some short and quick, some long and loud. The sounding of the shofar is seen as a call to repentance, and it sounds about as haunting as you might imagine. And yes, anyone can learn how to blow a shofar.
