Taking Hold of the Shofar: Dreams of Past & Future

By Rabbi Or Rose 
Director, Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership of Hebrew College

Ever since childhood, I have been fascinated by the ritual of the sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) during the High Holiday season, particularly the shofar service on Rosh Hashanah.

While I could not articulate this as a boy, I was, and continue to be, intrigued by the use of this ancient, natural, and rather simple instrument in the context of modern, carefully crafted, and complex High Holiday services.

To this day, I can visualize my father and my brother standing side-by-side, both with their heads covered by their tallitot (prayer shawls), leading our community through this evocative experience.

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HIGH HOLIDAYS 5783

Serving Communities from Brazil to Brookline

This High Holiday season, Hebrew College alumni, faculty, and students are serving communities all over the country and world. “The diversity of places where our alumni are serving speaks to the ongoing vitality of our mission to train rabbis and cantors from across the spectrum of observance and denominations,” said Rabbi Dan Judson, Hebrew College Dean and Chief Academic Officer.

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Jewish tradition teaches that as we walk the winding path of teshuvah (return and renewal) during the High Holiday season, it is wise to do so with fellow seekers. To help guide your steps, the faculty, alumni, and students of Hebrew College created a High Holiday Companion—a collection of reflections on the prayers, scriptural readings, and sacred practices of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We hope this booklet will help illuminate the way into the High Holiday liturgy and these sacred days of return and renewal.

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