6 Things to Contemplate When the Shofar Blows

I have five kids, and every time I was expecting a girl I would go to hear the shofar, and moments later I would go into labor and head to the hospital. When I was expecting my fourth girl I was actually scared to hear the shofar and go into premature labor!

While the world was contemplating crowning God as King, I was thinking about my baby crowning on the way to the hospital.

Thank God, nothing happened. I gave birth in November.

When the shofar blows, it’s an auspicious time that requires concentration and intention. Here are six important things to think about.

1. The Breath of God is within me.

Blowing the shofar takes an immense amount of breath to create that sound. The Torah teaches that when God created Adam, He blew the breath of life into him.

Why the term "breath?" Because God was placing a part of Himself in you. Recognizing that Godliness resides within us is empowering. No matter what happens to you or what you do or don’t accomplish this year, you have value because God placed a piece of himself inside you.

Think:

• I am holy because Godliness resides in me.
• I have tremendous value and can accomplish so much this year with Hashem's help. Even if I don’t, I am valuable and loved by God.
• God gave me the gift of life. I want to use it wisely this year.

2. Your vision for the coming year.

The shofar marks the start of a new year—a blank canvas. As you listen, ask yourself: Who do I want to become this year? What traits, goals, or relationships do I want to strengthen?

The sound of the shofar implants that vision within your soul. God is the CEO of the world and you are His trusted employee. What job description do you want God giving you this upcoming year? As the shofar sounds, envision your best year yet.

Think:

• I can rewrite my script this year.
• What does my ideal day look like this year?
• What role do I want for myself?

3. The soul’s cry: trust in God

The shofar’s sound sounds like a cry. When you were a baby and you needed something, you cried. Even the moment you were born you cried. You didn't yet know that the world (read mother) would respond to your cry. Your cry came from somewhere deeper. It wasn’t an intellectual decision; it was a basic instinct. It was a sound that came from deep within your soul expressing your soul's natural state of trusting in God.

Everyone is born with this trust but challenges, suffering, and loss may have masked that trust. The shofar’s call reawakens your basic, instinctive, spiritual feeling of trust in a Higher Power to take care of you.

Think:

• God is in control of my life and knows what’s best for me.
• I trust that whatever God chooses for me will be good.
• Everything comes from God.

4. God is calling you.

Sometimes my phone rings when I’m praying. It used to distract me but someone once told me to view it as if God is calling upon you to strengthen your prayer, to focus on that moment of connection. Now, I turn my ringer off, but if I forget to, the ring serves as a reminder to concentrate on closeness with God.

The shofar is like your cell phone ringing with God's call to bring you close. Accept the call.

Think:

• God loves me and wants a relationship with me.
• The shofar is God’s call to me.
• God is reminding me that anything is possible this upcoming year.

5. Your personal alarm clock.

The sound of the shofar is like your personal alarm clock, waking you up from your spiritual slumber.

Have you been hitting “snooze” on your spiritual goals? Maybe fear is holding you back from change. Maybe inertia has you staying in bed a little too long. Or perhaps you’ve been heading in the wrong direction altogether.

The piercing sound of the shofar is that final alarm—the one you can’t ignore. It’s meant to stir your soul, and shake you awake. This Rosh Hashanah, as the shofar blows, decide what’s the one thing you’ll finally “get up” and change. Even the smallest step in the right direction is powerful and precious to God.

Think:

• What small change can I make this year?
• Where have I been stuck, hitting “snooze”?
• How can I use the sound of the shofar to awaken and stir my soul into action?

6. Unity

Close your eyes and imagine that while the shofar blows, God is calling every Jew to come together. Visualize the Western Wall plaza packed with people, where Jews from all over the world join together to pray. Many Jews on Rosh Hashanah gather in synagogues around the world. Jews everywhere are all doing the same thing: listening and answering this call. Imagine the power of a united Jewish people and what that can accomplish for our hostages, our soldiers, and ourselves.

Think:

• Envision all Jews joining together praying for common goals.
• I am so lucky to be part of such an incredible nation.
• Remember all Jews share one soul, split into different parts.

This Rosh Hashanah, bring your concentration and attention to the sound of the shofar. Go deep inside and let the piercing call reverberate within you. What will you be thinking about this Rosh Hashanah? Share your comments and inspiration below.