Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has discovered that not all shofars (ram’s horns) used on Rosh Hashanah are kosher. Some of them have cracks, which invalidate them. The Rabbinate has also discovered that some shofars made in a Samaria (Shomron) village were made by Arabs, which might also invalidates their use for the commandment to hear the shofar on the upcoming Jewish New Year, due to a lack of reliable supervision while the shofars are being produced.
“It is so unfortunate that there are unscrupulous people, particularly before the High Holidays,” Rabbi Ariel Levine of northern Tel Aviv told Voice of Israel government radio Wednesday. Rabbi Levine recommends that people only purchase shofars with kosher certification. This year, Rosh Hashanah falls on Saturday and Sunday. Since the shofar isn’t blown on the Sabbath, the Torah commandment to hear the shofar will only be fulfilled on Sunday.