5 Tips for Shofar Shopping
One of Judaism's most iconic images, the shofar - a hollow horn with a drilled mouthpiece - has been a part of Jewish rituals for more than 3000 years, and is today most often used during the Hebrew month of Elul as well as on the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
With more than 150 shofars on our site, finding the perfect one can be a challenge - so we've put together our top tips for shofar shopping below!
1. Know Your Stuff
Shofars have been used by Jews for thousands of years. After the destruction of the Temple, when the Jewish people were forced into exile, different communities across the world used the resources they had to keep Jewish traditions alive. In Europe and parts of the Americas, where Jews are mostly Ashkenazi, ram's horn shofars are more common because rams, sheep, and goats were abundantly available. The iconic spiral kudu horn originates in Yemen, where kudus were readily found. Yemenite Jewish immigrants to Israel brought their tradition to the Jewish state, where the long kudu shofar has been widely adopted by Mizrahi Jews, as well as other Israelis. You can choose to follow the tradition of your community, or go with your own personal preference or style.
2. Size Matters...
The length of a shofar is not measured from end-to-end. Instead, it's taken around the curve or curves of the horn, so bear that in mind when picking a length. Make sure to look for a measurement in the product name or description, not just quantifying adjectives like 'small' or 'extra-large'. The smaller the measurement range given for a particular type of shofar, the more likely you are to find the size you're looking for.
3. Bigger Might Be Better
When you're choosing a shofar, remember that the bigger shofars have larger mouthpieces. Small mouthpieces are much harder to blow successfully and smoothly, so it's a good idea to go for a larger horn, especially if you're new to shofar-blowing! Big shofars also have more space in which air can vibrate, so you're more likely to be able to play different tones at ease.
4. Sound Check
Unlike traditional woodwind instruments, shofars do not have small holes to produce different notes when the player opens and closes a hole. A shofar creates one solid sound, but different notes can be achieved depending on how much pressure you blow into the horn. Keep in mind that bigger shofars often produce deeper notes, while smaller ones have a higher pitch.
5. And To Finish...
Shofars can be left natural, or they can be polished during production to create a sleek final product. You can also buy half-polished shofars, where the bottom-half is polished and the top has been left natural; this is more common among the Yemenite Kudu shofars. And of course, each horn is an organic product, so every shofar will have slightly different coloration and markings. Each shofar is like a fingerprint: there are no two shofars that are exactly alike. Pay attention to every detail to ensure you get exactly what you are looking for!