The Psychology of the Shofar

Come and hear: If someone was passing behind a Beit Knesset, or their house was adjacent to the Beit Knesset, and heard the sound of the shofar (or the reading of the Megilah), if they direct their heart (kiven libo) they have fulfilled their obligation, but if not, they have not fulfilled their obligation.

But another teaching was brought: If the hearer of the shofar had intention, but the sounder of the shofar did not have intention, or if the sounder of the shofar had intention, but the hearer did not have intention, the hearer has not fulfilled their obligation, until both the hearer and the sounder have intent.

Even though we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah simply because the Torah commands it, nevertheless, it is hinting at something more - as if to say, "Wake up, sleepyheads, from your slumber! Rouse yourselves, you lazy nappers, from your snoozing! Examine your conduct, turn back in teshuvah, and remember your Creator! And those who forget the truth because of the vanities of the times, who waste all of their years pursuing vanity and emptiness, useless things that cannot save us - look to your souls, look at your behavior and your tendencies, let each one of you abandon your wicked path and your unhealthy state of mind!"

pg. 119 in Mahzor Lev Shalem

God has ascended with a blast—

The Eternal, with the sound of the shofar. Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For King of all the earth is God, sing praises, all of you with talent.

God has reigned over all nations, sitting upon God's holy throne.

The following verses are said responsively:

From the narrowness I called to God, And God answered me with expansiveness.

You have heard my voice; do not shut Your ear to my prayer for relief, to my cry.

The beginning of Your word is Truth,

And your Just Law is is eternal.

Bring Your servant to the Good

Let me not be oppressed by the wicked.

I rejoice in Your words like one who has found a great treasure.

Teach me good reasoning and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments.

Be pleased with the offerings of my mouth Eternal One; Teach me your laws.

The one who sounds the shofar says:

Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the Universe Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar.

Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the Universe Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season.

TEKIA, SHEVARIM TERUA, TEKIA

TEKIA, SHEVARIM TERUA, TEKIA

TEKIA, SHEVARIM TERUA, TEKIA

TEKIA, SHEVARIM, TEKIA

TEKIA, SHEVARIM, TEKIA

TEKIA, SHEVARIM, TEKIA

TEKIA, TERUA, TEKIA

TEKIA, TERUA, TEKIA

TEKIA, TERUA, TEKIA GEDOLA