The Call of the Shofar

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Can you hear it in your mind's ear? Can you hear the distinctive cry of the Shofar that we sound once a year in the month leading up to Rosh Hashana and on Rosh Hashana itself? There is no other instrument that makes that sound. When we hear it, memories of the High Holidays spent with family and friends surge through our minds. This year, however, the Shofar’s call carries a profound and urgent message: it is a summons to embrace our Jewish identity with pride in the face of rising antisemitism.

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The Shofar serves not only as a traditional alarm calling us to reflect on our actions over the past year, as Maimonides suggests, but also as a contemporary clarion call urging us to stand tall against the wave of hatred directed at the Jewish community. With the continuing conflict in Gaza and the war with Iran, we have witnessed an alarming increase in antisemitism and antizionism, both globally and in our local communities. In light of these challenges, fear and anxiety should not be our default stance; instead, we must respond with courage and visibility.

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This year, our High Holiday theme is “Live Proudly, Embracing our Jewish Identity.” Yet, many of us have felt the pressure to conceal our Judaism. We remove Mezuzahs from our doors, refrain from attending synagogues and Jewish community events, and hide our jewelry with overtly Jewish symbols. We cover our heads with hats instead of wearing our kippot, and we leave our clothing adorned with Hebrew lettering tucked away in our closets. This instinct to hide our identities must change.

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The call of the Shofar this year should stir us to do the opposite. We should not be afraid to show our pride in our Judaism. Instead of feeling guilty about expressing joy in our history, we should embrace it wholeheartedly. The Shofar should ignite our passion for honoring our Jewish culture and heritage.

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What steps can we take this year to live Jewishly, openly, and proudly? We can participate in community events, attend educational programs, and advocate for our rights. We can strengthen our Jewish identities and increase our presence.  We have strength in numbers.  When we come together as a community to support one another, we gain the courage to make our Judaism a public statement.

The High Holidays are the perfect time to make a bold declaration to the world that we will not be bowed or sidelined. This year let’s sound the Shofar for all to hear—let us live proudly, embracing our Jewish identity.

 

Shanah Tovah Umetukah,

Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel