International Day of Shofar Study

It was like the beginning of a meeting for a 12-step program. One by one, they said their names, where they live and how they became addicted … to playing the shofar.

Shofarist David Zasloff, Photo by Rico Mandel.

That’s the provocative, but accurate introduction to an article in the Jewish Journal, about the recent International Day of Shofar Study event in Los Angeles.

Informal shofar classes for the public will be offered throughout the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 11 at Shalom House, 19740 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. For more information, call (818) 704-7100 or visit shofarcorps.org.

Richard Sachs, long-time French horn player and shofarist, “went for it” when Cantor Dan Pincus suggested that he convene a Shofaron at his temple.  A new tradition was born that night for Monmouth County Jewry.  Take a look at this article in the New Jersey Jewish News:

http://njjewishnews.com/article/monmouth/shofaron-at-monmouth-temples-a-blast

Yashar Koach, Rich.    As you said, the kids would not have taken their shofarot out of the closet so early were it not for International Day of Shofar Study on Rosh Chodesh Elul, which Shofar Corps. declared.

Outstanding  job, what with the post-Hurricane Irene power outage at your temple.

The following is not organized or sponsored by International Day of Shofar Study, but seems to share many of the same goals:

Join a global project at the nexus of sound, spirit and technology! On September 18th, Art Kibbutz NYC will host the greatest Shofar-blowing event since Sinai, a worldwide art performance that takes the Jewish tradition of sounding the Shofar daily during the Hebrew month of Elul…and gives it a 21st century, postmodern twist.

Action: Join a large group of artists and creative volunteers on September 18th who will blow the shofar together at a designated public space for 2 minutes as a call for teshuvah (return). This is the first-ever FlashMob utilizing a Shofar. Your action will be synchronized with other FlashMob teams around the world. This creative event will be documented and incorporated into an artistic, Rosh Hashana electronic greeting card, orchestrated by a composer. This is your chance to learn how to use the instrument and make a teruah gedolah (huge blast) that will rouse the heavens, and make Jews around the world, the international media and passers-by tremble.

See: http://shofarflashmob.weebly.com/

Thank you to everyone who helped make the first International Day of Shofar Study a success. Participants say they deepened their understanding of shofar, improved their technique, and strengthened their kavanah and preparation for the New Year.

We invite your feedback, and ideas about future activities that can build on our momentum.