Blowing the Shofar

Rosh Hashanah may be over but blowing the shofar never goes out of style! The sound of the shofar symbolizes the start of the new year. The distinct sound of the shofar reminds us of new beginnings; a time to make new friends, learn new things, and set new goals. It is not a coincidence that it coincides with the start of the new school year. The beginning of the school year is a time where we echo the excitement and renewal that the shofar beckons. Below the Etzim children had a chance to blow the shofar with Ellen. We were amazed at the sound, size, and beauty of the shofar. Happy Jewish new year and L'chaim (to life) to a wonderful start to our new school year!

Blowing the Shofar

The only ritual for Rosh Hashanah in the Torah is the blowing of the shofar. The shofar is a horn taken from any kosher animal except a cow. The loud blasts serve to wake us up spiritually, to alert us to the challenges of reflecting on how we  might become better persons. The commandment is to hear the shofar being blown, not to sound it ourselves. Even so, trying to blow the shofar is a fun, concrete way to welcome the new year.
Laurie brought in her shofar and showed us how to blow into it to make the sound. Hannah, Grace, Eli and Joey gave it their best.

Keep Blowing Ellen!

Ellen came in on Friday to give us a lesson in blowing the shofar.  There are several different shofar calls used on Rosh Hashanah. The tekiah is one long blast. The teruah is nine short blasts. The shevarim is three blasts. And the tekiah gedolah is a single long blast, much longer than the plain tekiah.  Check out the reactions of Josh and Reed as Ellen blows the tekiah gedolah!

More Shofar Blowing

Do YOU know how to blow a shofar? Well your child does! The children were offered the chance to try blowing a real shofar yesterday and today. Wow!  Learning the technique is hard work.  Most children (and adults) instinctively put the shofar inside their mouths and try to blow. In fact, a shofar is blown with a closed mouth, shofar pressed to lips, and then making your lips vibrate. It's tough and many children tried again and again to get a sound to come out.  Soon the halls rang with the sounds of the approaching new year.  And don't worry, we disinfected the shofar between blowers, of course!

We greet Rosh Hashanah with Rabbi Todd

All last week the Kohavim children have had a chance to learn about the shofar and practice blowing it in our classroom. They especially enjoyed the visit from Rabbi Todd during which he blew the very large shofar. We have pictures up on the bulletin board of the various horned animals from which the shofars come. The children enjoy trying to match the classroom shofars with the different looking horns on the pictures. One child wondered if a shofar could come from a unicorn. Another wondered about a reindeer. Thank you Rabbi Todd for sharing some holiday sights and sounds with us. Thank you Mia for sharing your dad!
L'Shana Tova to all.

Levana hears the shofar

Rabbi Todd is helping us get ready for Rosh Hashanah. He came into our classroom and made us smile as we listened to him blow the Shofar. We are learning lots of new Hebrew words like Rosh Hashana, shofar, tekiah, Shana Tova and more.

Thank you to Adam for sharing his dad with the Levana class.

Rabbi Todd Brings the Shofar

Rabbi Todd came to visit us today and brought his Shofar. He taught us the sounds that the Shofar makes-Tekiah, Shevarim, Teru'ah, and Tekiah Gedolah! Rabbi Todd blew softly so that we would not be afraid. Thanks for visiting Rabbi Todd!!!