Blowing the shofar is an opportunity for each and every one of us to start the new year with mercy rather than strict judgment.
81-year-old Yaakov Cohen was revealed as the mystery IDF soldier shown blowing a shofar in an iconic photograph in Jerusalem's Old City.
With all the various shofars that are kosher on display, one can be blown away, and it’s a pretty sweet way to kick off the new year.
The rabbis did not rule that it was forbidden to use the shofar on Shabbat, what they ruled was that it was forbidden to carry the shofar to the synagogue on Shabbat.
Because of Rabbi Elazar’s great holiness, the fulfillment of the mitzvah resulted in the storm passing, and they were all saved in his merit.
What is the point of trying every year, only to discover that we’ve returned to where we started? This can easily turn into torture.
If we listen well to the sounds of the shofar in Elul, we will be able to earnestly immerse ourselves in the Days of Awe.
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