Shofar: The Sounds of RepentanceSample

A Call to Return

“Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” — ZECHARIAH 1:3

One of the major themes of Rosh Hashanah is teshuvah, הבושת, meaning “repentance.” This is why it is also known as the Judgment Day.

Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year,” is not the anniversary of the creation of the world, as some mistakenly assume. The truth is that it comes five days after the anniversary of the beginning of Creation, and commemorates the sixth day, when Adam was created. So, Rosh Hashanah is actually the anniversary of the creation of humankind. It seems appropriate then that every year at this time, God looks upon us in a special way and judges how we are leading our lives.

The concept of judgment day is also mentioned throughout the Christian Bible, but refers to a day when, in Christian tradition, all will give account of their actions and words before God. As Jesus told his followers in Matthew, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken” (12:36). The Apostles Paul and Peter also warned the early church of God’s wrath on that day of judgment. (See Romans 2:5, 2 Peter 2:9 and 3:7.)

We spend Rosh Hashanah in prayer and introspection. We reconsider how we are living our lives and return to the “original plan,” which is to live a life of obedience and contribution.

In Judaism, this repentance consists of several steps. We must express regret for our misdeeds. We must sincerely confess our sins. We must resolve to behave differently in the future. And, if we have hurt another person through our actions, we must make amends. In the Christian Bible, Jesus taught this principle to his followers this way: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

We take that first step to repentance on Rosh Hashanah and continue the process throughout the following days, called “the Days of repentance,” Aseret Yemei Teshuvah. We complete the process on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The true test of our repentance comes when we find ourselves in situations where we have failed before, but this time, choose to remain obedient instead.

The call to repentance is found in the Christian Bible as well. When John the Baptist began his ministry in the wilderness, he called people to repent (Mark 1:4). Jesus, after being criticized for eating with sinners, said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). As in Judaism, repentance in the Christian faith requires action. John the Baptist told the crowds, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God” (Luke 3:8, NLT).

The sound of the shofar reminds us that judgment is approaching and that it is time to mend our ways. We do not mention our sins in synagogue during Rosh Hashanah, because we are focused on the first step of repentance—returning to God and regretting our past mistakes. Confession will come in our liturgy on Yom Kippur.

The goal of Rosh Hashanah is to change our hearts and our heads, setting us once again in the right direction. The shofar sounds the way.