Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins the time of year called the High Holidays and Days of Awe. When one thinks about Rosh Hashanah one of the first images that come to mind is that of blowing the Shofar. By blowing the Shofar we crown the Almighty as our King for another year, we "remind" G-d of the willingness of Abraham and Isaac to sacrifice themselves, and we arouse ourselves to return to G-d. It is for this reason that Shofar blowing takes such a central role in the Rosh Hashanah service.

With this in mind we may ask, "Why when Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbat do we not blow the Shofar?" The Talmud offers an explanation of this question and says that perhaps someone will want to learn how to properly blow, forget that it is Shabbat, and carry the Shofar to his teacher. Since carrying on Shabbat (in the public domain) is strictly forbidden, we therefore do not blow the Shofar when the holiday occurs on Shabbat.

Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch (the fifth Rebbe of the Chabad Movement) asks a question about the answer offered by the Talmud. Is it possible that the great Mitzvah of Shofar blowing should be negated because maybe someone who needs to learn how to blow might forget it is Shabbat and perhaps will carry his Shofar to his teacher? There are so many doubts in this scenario. It is indeed odd that so many doubts should lead to negating what can only be characterized as a major Mitzvah.

The Rebbe then offers a wonderful explanation that gives us insight into many other questions that we may have. He ultimately points out that the reason that we do not blow the Shofar on Shabbat is because Shabbat itself fulfills all of the concepts represented by the Shofar blowing. Shabbat itself elicits the notion that G-d is our King, that we must serve Him with self-sacrifice (like Abraham and Isaac), and that we must return to G-d with our whole hearts. Since Shabbat day fulfills these concepts, we do not potentially jeopardize Shabbat observance by someone inadvertently carrying his Shofar.

This brief explanation helps us to appreciate the mighty holiness of the Shabbat day. The reconnection to our Creator afforded by Shabbat observance does not have an equal, even on the High Holidays. Even Yom Kippur, known as the holiest day of the year, is called the Shabbat of Shabbats. This shows that its holiness is expressed by emphasizing its Shabbat qualities.

The fact that we have no obligation to fulfill commandments that we have already spiritually fulfilled in other ways is indeed telling. Many Traditional Rabbis will point to this reason as to why women are not commanded to observe positive Mitzvot with a fixed time. From this explanation we understand that it is not due to a spiritual inferiority that women do not do some of these commandments, actually it is just the opposite.

This Shabbat Rosh Hashanah as we sit in the synagogue we will not hear the sound of the Shofar. We must instead look inwardly and focus on the message of the Shofar, the message of the Shabbat, and remember the awesome spirituality we have available to us if will just decide to use it.

Shanah Tovah!

Written by :

Ray