Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

On the first of Elul this Friday, the tradition of hearing the shofar begins on a daily basis at the conclusion of the Shacharit service. Given that the ritual of the Shofar is a custom and not a law during Elul, no blessing is recited.

When the practice of the Shofar is obligatory on Rosh Hashanah, the blessing preceding the act is instructive. The blessing concludes with the words "Lishmo'a Kol Shofar" -  We are commanded to hear the sound of the Shofar. Interestingly, the Mitzvah is not on sounding the Shofar, but on hearing it. Thousands of years ago, the nature of the Shofar obligation was debated. The Halakha, Jewish Law, is clear. One must hear the sounds of the Shofar.

Most years, one is able to see the Baal Tekiah, the one who sounds the Shofar and the ram's horn he is using. This year will be quite different, as with many situations, because of the pandemic. The province of Ontario is prohibiting the sounding of wind instruments, including the Shofar, indoors. The health concern of particles in the air in a shared physical space even with social distancing is too great a risk.

During the preparatory month of Elul, we will have our Baal Tekiah stand slightly outside the sanctuary behind a side door which connects the front of the sanctuary to the playground next door. As long as attendees, in the sanctuary or on livestream, can hear the Shofar, the ritual observance will have been performed adequately.

Truly, this year, the practice to hear the sounds of the Shofar will take on new meaning. May the hearing of the Shofar's sounds inspire us to hear each other and to hear what God demands of us.

Rabbi Howard Morrison