Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

110 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 

The Call of the Shofar
T

his week, we have stories about shofars 
for Rosh Hashanah. Associate Editor 
Rachel Sweet focuses on how does one 
blow a shofar? Not an easy or intuitive task, to 
be sure. Rabbi Louis Finkelman explores how 
does one become a shofar blower? It’s a bit 
different than deciding to play the tuba in the 
school band.
There are many stories and parables 
regarding the meaning of 
blowing the shofar. Rabbi 
Finkleman related an interesting 
quote to me, that has been 
attributed to the 
Baal Shem Tov, 
Rabbi Israel ben 
Eliezer (1690-
1700): “The call 
of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah 
reminds us of the primordial 
scream, the eternal voiceless call 
of the soul expressing its desire to 
return to its Creator.
” 

I decided for Rosh Hashanah, 
I should explore “shofars” in the 
William Davidson Digital Archive 
of Jewish Detroit History. I found 
that shofars are mentioned on 
2,423 pages.
Both the JN as well as the Detroit 
Jewish Chronicle published hundreds 
of articles and images of shofars. 
Moreover, “shofar” appears on 67 
front pages. In the past, as well 
as in this issue of the JN, readers 
could learn where and how to 
make shofars, how to make them 
sound the noble blast and what it 
symbolizes.

The earliest article appeared in the 5680 
Rosh Hashanah (or as it was spelled then, 
“Hashonah”) issue of the Chronicle (Sept. 19, 
1919). “The Call of the Shofar” was penned 
by Rabbi Judah L. Levin of the United Jewish 
Orthodox Community of Detroit. 

Beyond the symbolism of the shofar — a 
topic for many stories — shofars are discussed 
in a wide range of articles. Take podiatrist 

Marc Lindy. His hobby, after a tough day 
in the office, was making beautiful shofars 
(Oct. 3, 1986, JN). For further inspiration, 
read “Jerrod Blows the Shofar,
” a neat short 
story by 7-year-old Lowell Stearn (Sept. 18, 
1986).
The image on the front pages of the JN 
are superb. One especially poignant cover 
graced the Sept. 22, 1944, issue. With 
a Hebrew label, the image is of Jewish 
soldiers in the British Army blowing the 
shofar in Jerusalem amid WWII. This front 
page also notes that the British War Office 
finally decided to form a Jewish 
Brigade, as it did during the 
first World War (the famous 
Jewish Legion). 
The front page of the Sept. 
26, 2003, JN features a great 
photograph of Michael Eber, 17, 
and Zachary Friedman, 14, from 
West Bloomfield. The “shofarists” 
are pictured blowing their horns 
at Temple Shir Shalom. 
The original cover art for 
the Sept. 21, 1990, issue is my 
personal favorite. This art from 
Giora Carmi features a beautiful 
array of colors emerging from the 
shofar against a blue background 
for Rosh Hashanah 5751. 
If you’
d like to showcase your 
shofar skill, enter the JN’s Shofar 
Blowing Competition. Can 
you beat Alan Posner, director 
of Bands of Bloomfield Hills 
Public Schools? Send us a video 
introducing yourself and showing 
how long you can blow the shofar. 
Two winners, one over 16 and one under, will 
win fun prizes that will be awarded after the 
holiday. 
Send a video that introduces yourself and 
showcases your shofar skill by Sept. 23 to 
socialmedia@thejewishnews.com. 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation 
archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

