The Bible Says What? The shofar reminds us to repent… and go to war!
Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers reflects on a central message of the High Holy Days
As we dash towards the High Holy Days, communities began blowing the shofar, a ‘warning’ sound so visceral it rarely fails to give me goosebumps. But taking alarm? That’s not what normally happens, even if the first time we hear it is on Rosh Hashanah.
Moses Maimonides describes the shofar blast as being like an alarm clock; a wake-up call asking us to open our eyes and look at who we have become – it is a call to repentance. But we hear in the book of Amos (3:6) that it was also, perhaps primarily, a call to war, playing a pivotal role when Joshua led an attack upon Jericho when the walls came tumbling down.
It is strange an instrument that feels like a crucial piece of spiritual technology was also a cry rallying the troops to battle; something that is the polar opposite of spirituality. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised – most things in the Jewish world have multiple meanings. It’s possible the battle cry issued by the shofar is still needed. What battles should we be called to this year?
We are beginning a special year known as the Shmita – the seventh, sabbatical year when the land lies fallow. We are asked to look after the land so it might be more fruitful. The earth this year has been calling out in pain. Forest fires, floods, a pandemic – our behaviours have waged war on the planet’s resources and health. So perhaps we do need a rallying battle cry – a fightback to defend the planet.
Religious war is not a concept that sits well with me. But perhaps the shofar can call us to battles that need fighting in other ways, waking us up to behaviours that need to be turned around.
- Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers is part of the rabbinic team at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
