By Joy Krauthammer

TEKIAH!

SOUNDS of the SHOFAR (SOS) inspire me to open with a blast, the beginning of Elul on day one, Rosh Chodesh, for self-reflection/Cheshbon Hanefesh, knowing I can meet Our Beloved in the field. A serious soul journey lies ahead, and I am inspired to meditate on SOS!

SHEVARIM!

SOS inspire me for the New Year to once again seasonally awaken to my Jewish tradition and heritage, and connect to my faith and beliefs, knowing SOS in the same sequence of blasts are heard around the world.

SOS help me to stimulate others when I play shofar. Friends receiving SOS are a gift to me, and I am further inspired with Chesed to give more and joyously do more mitzvot.

SOS, as I practice playing, inspire me to study Torah and understand more fully.

TERUAH!

SOS inspire me to Shma/listen silently to the notes, and more deeply, in awe, and with strong kavannah/intention to be a betterBa’alat Tekiah (as my husband, z’l, taught me when we bought our first shofar in the Old City.

Sounds of the Shofar inspire me to breathe deeply, expansively –G*d in and out.

SOS inspire me to use tools, instruments of music of my own faith, and to mamash delve deeper and higher into my Judaism.

SOS inspires me to share with pride and joy in interfaith gatherings with my own authentic ancient Jewish instrument of sound– shofar, in addition to spiritually playing drum/tof and timbrel ala Miriyahm HaNeviah in temples. SOS inspire me to carve my own personal shofar.

TEKIAH GEDOLAH!

The shofar inspires me through grateful breath to connect L’Dor V’Dor with my children and their child; to the Holy One, Mount Moriah, Mount Sinai, and to our People, all the way back to the ram caught in the thicket by its horns (Genesis 22:13); and to our Matriarch, Sarah, who died because of the Akeda/ the Binding. When I save little goats with their horned heads stuck in fences (at Elat Chayyim), and I give them freedom–I am inspired. Baruch Hashem.