This shofar, or ram's horn, is approximately thirty centimeters long. It is enamel in colour, and was made in Israel.

The second shofar, pictured below, is of Yemenite origin, and is about three times longer than the first (nearly 1 meter). It is gray and black in colour near the top, and lighter shades of gray and various shades of brown toward the base.

Smooth, with an almost glossy sheen on the front, each shofar has small, even bumps on the back. The bumps on the back of the shofar serve as a reminder that it used to be part of an animal. The hollow ram's horn has a natural curve, which is sometimes enhanced by boiling the horn and further shaping it. The shofar is sounded during the High Holidays. Traditionally, it was sounded as a reminder of the biblical phrase "freedom throughout the land". The shofar is one of the oldest known musical instruments, but it is now predominately used in religious services. Sound is made by blowing into the smaller end of the horn.

Back to Treasures	Glossary	Jewish Holidays	Life Cycle	Home Page