Bringing the Sounds of the Shofar to the Community

Hearing the sound of the shofar is a Torah-decreed mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah, which starts on September 7. The Book of Numbers declares that Rosh Hashanah “will be for you a day of sounding the shofar.” And from this verse, we learn of the obligation to blow the shofar during the day, not after sundown; while our sages determined that the total number of shofar blasts during the service (one hundred) coincides with that of the special blessings included in the Rosh Hashanah prayers.

Orthodox shuls do not use virtual programming on Shabbat or High Holy Days; yet, hearing the shofar is an essential commandment. Therefore, Orthodox synagogues bring live shofar-blowing to members who are unable to attend shul services, enabling them to fulfill the mitzvah. To accomplish this, many synagogues will employ protocols they established during the COVID-19 pandemic, which expanded opportunities to hear the shofar outdoors.

Modern Orthodox synagogue Ohr HaTorah in Toco Hills plans to have an outdoor shofar blowing at the end of their Rosh Hashanah services. Congregants who miss services can also hear the shofar on the outdoor Ohr HaTorah patio before the start of the Minchah service at 7 p.m. Home shofar visits can be arranged through the shul.

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Rabbi Ilan D. Feldman of Congregation Beth Jacob in Toco Hills, notes that in addition to shofar-sounding at the end of its many Rosh Hashanah service options, “Additional Shofar blowing will take place throughout the afternoon at Shul and around the neighborhood.” The synagogue will arrange shofar visits for members who will be at home.

Rabbi Shmuel Khoshkerman of Sephardic Congregation Ner Hamizrach in Toco Hills says, “We will accommodate everyone. Individuals can receive a home visit, and we will have a special outdoor shofar-blowing in the afternoon of the first and second days of Rosh Hashanah, as well.”

Rabbi Mark Kunis of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, a traditional synagogue in the Toco Hills area, notes, “As we did last year, the final blasts of the shofar at the end of services, will be held outdoors at 1 p.m. on both the first and second days of Rosh Hashanah. We will definitely accommodate those who are not comfortable attending shul.”

Six students at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael in Toco Hills have learned to blow the shofar with the proper cantillations. The combination of acquiring a challenging Jewish skill and being able to help other Jews fulfill a mitzvah is their motivation. They will visit people at their homes, apartments and condos. These young men are among the qualified shofar-blowing volunteers assigned through Congregation Beth Jacob.

YOY student Eitan Zavulunov taught himself to blow the shofar.

Chabad Intown’s Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman lists the following options: On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the congregation will blow the shofar and join for the Tashlich service at the gazebo in Piedmont Park at 6:30 p.m. On the second day, outdoor public shofar-blowing will take place at their location on the BeltLine at 7 p.m.

In addition to its full services, Congregation Beth Tefillah in Sandy Springs, led by Rabbi Yossi New, will offer a 45-minute outdoor “inspirational service” at 10:30 a.m., followed by shofar-blowing. Throughout the afternoon on both days, members of the congregation will blow shofar outdoors for homebound members and groups.

Chabad of North Fulton, led by Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz, trained members to blow the shofar for a “Mitzvah Hike” as a way to reach homebound members and residents of the nearby Cohen Home assisted living facility. The congregation will blow the shofar outdoors on the afternoon of the first day at central offsite locations, including Newtown Park.

Chabad of Gwinnett’s Rabbi Yossi Lerman will lead a community-wide “Shofar in the Park” shofar-blowing and Tashlich service at the river overlook in Holcomb Bridge Park at 6 p.m. on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.

Rabbi Binyomin Friedman at Congregation Ariel in Dunwoody will arrange home shofar-blowing for individuals who are unable to attend services, and the synagogue will host outdoor shofar-blowing at the nearby Brook Run Park Amphitheater at 2 p.m. on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. After services, there will be outdoor shofar-blowing at the synagogue at 1 p.m. on both days.

The above-mentioned synagogues stress that coronavirus conditions will determine final decisions about services and outdoor shofar-blowing. Individuals are encouraged to visit synagogue websites for the most timely and accurate information, and to contact synagogues to request a home shofar visit.