The sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is an extension of the sound of the shofar from Mount Sinai, as it says, "There was the sound of a shofar, increasing in volume to a great degree." (Exodus 19:19)
The shofar's blast is growing louder with each generation and each year, until we shall ultimately hear, with G-d's help, the sound of the "great shofar" mentioned in Isaiah 27:13:
"On that day, a great shofar shall be blown. They who were lost shall come from the land of Assyria, and they who were dispersed from the land of Egypt, and they shall worship the L-rd in the holy mountain at Jerusalem."
"Happy is the people that knows the shofar's blasts. They walk, O L-rd, in the light of Your countenance." (Psalm 89:16) The sound of the shofar serves to teach, to remind and to imbue within us the marvelous awareness that "the L-rd is good to all, and His mercy is over all His works." (Psalm 145:9) Thus, goodness shall triumph, and is triumphing already.
It is true that Adam's sin caused evil to conquer good. Yet, at Sinai we merited that good was delivered out of the hands of evil. The rabbis say, "There is no good but Torah," and evil is going to decrease and disappear and cease entirely. In our prayers we state, "All evil shall cease like smoke, for You shall remove the dominion of evil from the world."
When will that occur? With the ingathering of the exiles, as we say in our prayers: "Sound the great shofar for our freedom. Lift up the banner to bring our exiles together. Assemble us from the four corners of the earth." (Shemoneh Esreh)
Today, how fortunate we are that we are starting to hear the sound of the great shofar ? through the ingathering of the exiles and the rebuilding of our land. Yet, we have not yet reached the final destination. The nations of the world have not yet resigned themselves to Israel's rebirth in its land, and they are fighting and pressuring us.
However, the day is not far removed when we will achieve resounding victory over them. Through that will come fulfillment of our request, "O L-rd, our G-d, place Your fear over all Your works?" This, in turn, will lead to fulfillment of, "O L-rd, grant honor to Your people and joy to Your land? and may the righteous see and rejoice? and may You speedily rule alone over all Your works on Mount Zion, the abode of Your glory, and Jerusalem, Your holy city." Speedily in our day. Amen.
The shofar's blast is growing louder with each generation and each year, until we shall ultimately hear, with G-d's help, the sound of the "great shofar" mentioned in Isaiah 27:13:
"On that day, a great shofar shall be blown. They who were lost shall come from the land of Assyria, and they who were dispersed from the land of Egypt, and they shall worship the L-rd in the holy mountain at Jerusalem."
"Happy is the people that knows the shofar's blasts. They walk, O L-rd, in the light of Your countenance." (Psalm 89:16) The sound of the shofar serves to teach, to remind and to imbue within us the marvelous awareness that "the L-rd is good to all, and His mercy is over all His works." (Psalm 145:9) Thus, goodness shall triumph, and is triumphing already.
It is true that Adam's sin caused evil to conquer good. Yet, at Sinai we merited that good was delivered out of the hands of evil. The rabbis say, "There is no good but Torah," and evil is going to decrease and disappear and cease entirely. In our prayers we state, "All evil shall cease like smoke, for You shall remove the dominion of evil from the world."
When will that occur? With the ingathering of the exiles, as we say in our prayers: "Sound the great shofar for our freedom. Lift up the banner to bring our exiles together. Assemble us from the four corners of the earth." (Shemoneh Esreh)
Today, how fortunate we are that we are starting to hear the sound of the great shofar ? through the ingathering of the exiles and the rebuilding of our land. Yet, we have not yet reached the final destination. The nations of the world have not yet resigned themselves to Israel's rebirth in its land, and they are fighting and pressuring us.
However, the day is not far removed when we will achieve resounding victory over them. Through that will come fulfillment of our request, "O L-rd, our G-d, place Your fear over all Your works?" This, in turn, will lead to fulfillment of, "O L-rd, grant honor to Your people and joy to Your land? and may the righteous see and rejoice? and may You speedily rule alone over all Your works on Mount Zion, the abode of Your glory, and Jerusalem, Your holy city." Speedily in our day. Amen.