In your question you asked about
why we don't use a real trumpet, and
I think it's reasonable to consider that
a trumpet is perhaps too technical
for the function served by a shofar.
Trumpets have evolved over time
and there are many different kinds
of horns, from bugles to comets to
French horns to sousaphones. Those
instruments are all regulated to
sound a certain way.
A shofar is taken from a living
being. Every shofar sounds different,
just like every community and every
listener is different.
For more insight on this issue,
I contacted Rabbi Josh Feigelson,
campus rabbi and senior director
for educational initiatives at the
Northwestern University Hillel. Rabbi
Feigelson is a trained tubist and he
wrote to me about some of the dif-
ferences between playing the tuba (a
brass instrument, like a trumpet) and
blowing the shofar.
"Pitch is not so much an issue in
playing the shofar," he said. "You're
not out to create a melody, which
you are trying to do when playing
the tuba. When I'm playing the sho-
far, I'm more focused simply on the
sound"
He goes on to say, "The shofar isn't
a musical instrument. It is a battle
cry, or a mournful cry, but its sym-
bolism comes from its sound and the
fact that it is the shofar making the
sound on the day of Rosh Hashanah.
The tuba has no inherent symbolism,
and its sounds are ultimately judged
and understood within the context of
a melody or a larger work:'
Feigelson reminded me that sho-
fars are notoriously stinky. Other
brass instruments do not tend to
carry quite the same level of aroma.
I also think there's something to be
said for the primitive nature of the
shofar. It is nature-made. It is simple.
Many people think that a teruah
sounds like a voice crying out. Isn't it
appropriate for the instrument that
calls us to reflect and repent to sound
like a human voice?
All that said, did you know there
are some pieces of classical music
that call for the use of the shofar?
Edward Elgar's oratorio The Apostles
includes a shofar and Lester Bowie,
a famous jazz trumpeter, was known
for sometimes playing the shofar
with the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Fl
For more information about Judaism and
Jewish life, visit MyJewishLearning.com .
Selichot At
Beth Ahm
F
or Selichot this year,
Congregation Beth Ahm
in West Bloomfield will
screen Choose Life: High Holy Day
Conversations, a DVD for the New
Year produced by the Ziegler School
of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles
and featuring Rabbis Ed Feinstein,
Bradley Shavit Artson and David
Wolpe.
The DVD contains two conversa-
tions. The first is titled, "How Do We
Journey from Strength to Strength?"
and the other explores "The Future of
Conservative Judaism:
The program will begin at 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 4, followed by an open
conversation facilitated by Rabbi
Steven Rubenstein. At 10:30, after
light refreshments, Beth Ahm will
hold its Selichot service — a blend
of traditional and contemporary
melodies and prayers that introduces
the musical motifs of the Days of
Awe. The service will be led by Beth
Alum's High Holiday music team:
Ronn Nadis, Professor Howard N.
Lupovitch, Emily Nadis and Rebecca
Nadis.
There is no charge; no reservations
are needed and all are welcome.
For those not able to attend
evening program, there will be a
re-screening of the Choose Life DVD
10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, following
9 a.m. minyan and breakfast. Nancy
Kaplan will facilitate a discussion
afterward. Everyone is welcome.
Beth Ahm is located at 5075 W.
Maple, West Bloomfield, just west of
Inkster.
The Choose Life DVD is available to
view online at the American Jewish
University website, www.ajula.edu .
Beth Ahm is offering a Days of
Awe Resource Guide containing rec-
ommended books and websites for
those wishing to lead up to the New
Year with spiritual reflection, self-
evaluation and Torah study. Copies
are available at Beth Ahm or can be
requested via U.S. mail or e-mail.
The Resource Guide has been post-
ed on the Beth Ahm website, www.
cbahm.org/high-holiday-information.
For information about Selichot or
the Resource Guide, contact Rabbi
Rubenstein's assistant Nancy Kaplan
at (248) 737-1931 or
nancyellen879@att.net . El
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Call or stop by today.
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September 2 • 2010
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