Illustration
Photo: Liquid Library
New course: How to blow a shofar
Beersheba Religious Council holds special study group for all horn blowers at city's synagogues, in bid to 'provide them with the halachic tools for kosher tekiot'
A special advanced study group is being held at the Beersheba Religious Council for the first time: During the Days of Awe (between Rosh Hashana
and Yom Kippur),
synagogue representatives are learning how to blow a shofar, the horn sounded during special prayers.
The study group was initiated by Religious Council Chairman Yitzhak Amor. According to the Council, those who don't take part in the study group or fail it will not be authorized to blow the shofar at local synagogues.
The advanced study group was announced in all synagogues across the southern city, and each temple was asked to send its representatives slated to blow the shofar during the holiday prayers.
The study group is guided by an authorized rabbi, who explains how the important horn blowing duty should be preformed according to Jewish Law, and why it is important to blow the shofar in accordance with the ancient tradition.
"Blowing the shofar in an incorrect way is faulty," says a rabbi familiar with the issue.
"The study group is not only being held in order to fulfill one's obligation, but also to provide the shofar blowers from all synagogues in Beersheba with the halachic tools for kosher tekiot (blowings)," explained Amor.
"Those who fail the study group will not receive a certificate authorizing them to blow the shofar. Thus, a person who has not received a certificate will be disqualified from blowing the horn during the Days of Awe."
Amor made it clear that "as far as the Chief Rabbinate and the Religious Council are concerned, those who don't take part in the study group will not be authorized to blow the shofar."
