Portfolio Details

Title:

Sha-alu Shalom Yerushalayim

Description:

The shofar, or ram’s horn, is a trumpet designed primarily to make a loud noise rather than to make music. In the context of war it was blown as a call to battle, to warn of impending attack and to proclaim victory. The shofar sounded on Mount Sinai when Moses brought the people out to meet G–d (Exodus 19:16,19) and was used to bring down the walls at Jericho (Joshua 6:4,20). Ezekiel 33 tells of the watchman that blows the shofar to warn the people when he sees approaching danger. In the year of Jubilee the shofar was to be blown on Yom Kippur to announce liberation and restoration. Jewish worship later adapted its use to every Yom Kippur as a symbol of the substitution of the ram for Isaac (Genesis 22:13). Today, the sound of the shofar reminds us of G–d’s Everlasting Covenant with His Chosen People, Israel. Just as it was used in ancient days as a call to prayer and worship, let it call us to follow the example of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Daniel and all the prophets as they prayed on behalf of the people of Israel. May the shofar call us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.