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God’s Friendship for Us

 

The Shofar Expresses God’s Friendship for Us

 

            One of the sounds of the shofar is terua, which may be translated as “friendship.” In keeping with this meaning, a verse states, “The friendship [terua] of the King is with [the nation of Israel]” (Numbers 23:21).

            When we blow the shofar during Elul, we experience God’s friendship. The shofar represents God calling out to us. It is the way in which He declares, “I love you.”

            My rebbe, [?], once said: Imagine two scenarios. In one, as you pass by a window, you hear someone call out, “Help!” In the other, as you pass by a window, you hear a scream.

            The second scenario will move you more, because a scream is primal. It expresses a person’s essence. In speech, the listener has to care about what the speaker is saying, but that is not necessary in the case of a scream.

            During Elul, the shofar is God’s voice calling out to us. It is His outcry: “I am pained because you are not doing everything that you can with your life. I am pained because you are wasting your potential.”

            During Elul, listen to the shofar with the knowledge that it is God’s outcry communicating His concern for us.

By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

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