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TheRebbe.org Multimedia Video Living Torah Disc 39 Program One Hundred Fifty Four

The Call of the Shofar

Two reasons for sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah

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The Call of the Shofar : Two reasons for sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah

The Talmud teaches that on Rosh Hashanah G-d asks His people to sound the shofar in order to make Him their King, and to “remind” Him of their meritorious past.
Topics: Shofar, Lubavitcher Rebbe
The Call of the Shofar
Two reasons for sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah
Disc 39, Program 154

Event Date: 10 Shevat 5746 - January 20, 1986

The Talmud teaches that on Rosh Hashanah G-d asks His people to sound the shofar in order to make Him their King, and to “remind” Him of their meritorious past.

The Baal Shem Tov explains this with a parable. A king dispatched his son to a distant land. However, by the time the prince finally desired to return, he had forgotten the language spoken in the king’s court and was denied entry to the palace. In his anguish, he issued a piercing cry, straight from the heart. His father, recognizing the voice, welcomed his lost son back to his royal home. In this parable, G-d responds to the spontaneous cry that bursts forth from the contrite heart of the penitent.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev gives a different parable: The shofar on Rosh Hashanah reminds G-d, so to speak, of the shofar at Sinai—when we were the only nation in the world to accept His Torah. G-d is thus reminded of His people’s greatness, and they are immediately restored to good favor.
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Miryam Usa September 13, 2024

Amazing! Even animal souls will understand when the great shofar sounds! I was listening to this and my cat NaMare, stood up on his 2 back leggs looking around, specifically towards the window. My oldest LaHava, was looking around and my youngest KB Simcha had his ears back, wide eyed and was staring towards tge same window! B'H Reply

Gwendolynn Fort Myers September 13, 2024

Thank you for sharing this. This was very Kind of You. Hope that you have a Good One. Reply

Aleksandra Belgrade August 18, 2021

Beautiful! L'Shanah Tovah! Reply

sunil subba India September 29, 2016

A happy Rosh Hashanah to all of you at the chabad and thanks for all the subscriptions.The sound of the shofar was heard the first time and it is indeed powerful, i felt as though the new year has begun already.Thanks for explaining the inner meaning of the Shofar which to me is that like attracts like as knowing the torah and the response it calls for is only by the like which is the jewish people. Reply

Lisa Rosenkoetter carlisle September 28, 2016

This is very beautiful. Reply

Anne Hayward, Ca September 19, 2016

I love this story. It is one of many that I can hear it repeated over and over. It has my soul's heart. Thank you. Shalom. Reply

Yisroel Levi Manchester, Lancashire via lchaim.org.uk September 16, 2012

The promise from the Lubavitcher rebbe The Rebbe was ceaseless in his call for the entire Jewish people to make every mitzvah opportunity count.
G-d willing, this year we will see Moshiach and experience the full redemption of our entire nation and this world.
L'shana tova to all. Reply

tom mccaffrey Louth, Ireland. September 12, 2012

Crowning the King What a wonderful world we live in. God is not only King of the Universe, but also the Commander-in-chief of every nation that goes to war. Have we got something wrong? Reply

Anonymous Lagos, Nigeria September 12, 2012

Subject is highly motivating - spiritually. Reply

Danielle San Jose, CA September 10, 2012

I am not very religious, but I hope my daughter will have respect for out tradition. Reply

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