Related reading: Live Broadcasts of Holiday Events and Shirat HaYam - Text, Meaning, Audio, and Printable Guide.

The shofar is one of the most recognizable moments of Rosh Hashanah: a simple, ancient, stirring sound that brings the whole synagogue back to one large question: how do we want to begin the year? This page offers a clear explanation of the mitzvah of shofar, when it is sounded, what happens during the blasts, how to explain it to children, and what to include in a printable PDF for a family, classroom, or holiday table.

This guide is suitable for reading before the holiday, for a short reference during the holiday, and for a Rosh Hashanah quiz activity around the shofar. It does not replace a machzor or halachic guidance; it gives an educational, practical, easy-to-use framework.

What Is the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah?

The shofar is a hollow animal horn, and Jewish tradition especially associates it with a ram's horn. On Rosh Hashanah, the mitzvah of the day is to hear the sound of the shofar. The Torah calls the day "a day of teruah," and this sound became the central sign of the holiday: awakening, memory, kingship, repentance, and a new beginning.

Unlike an ordinary musical instrument, the shofar is not meant to create a complex melody. Its power lies in its simplicity. It sounds like a call: sometimes steady and straight, sometimes broken, sometimes trembling. That is why both children and adults can connect to it even before they understand every halachic detail.

When Is the Shofar Sounded?

On Rosh Hashanah, the shofar is sounded during the daytime prayers in synagogue. Many communities also arrange shofar soundings for people who cannot attend the full service, so that families, older adults, people who are unwell, or children can still hear the shofar.

In many communities, the shofar is also sounded during the month of Elul as preparation for Rosh Hashanah. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah itself, many have the custom not to blow the shofar, in order to distinguish between the preparatory blasts of Elul and the mitzvah blasts of Rosh Hashanah.

When the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, special laws and customs apply. Each year it is important to check the calendar, the prayer schedule, and the guidance of the local synagogue or community.

What Do We Do During the Shofar Blasts?

During the shofar blasts, people stand quietly and listen. The main action is not to "do" something, but to hear. This is a beautiful idea for children: sometimes a great mitzvah begins with listening.

The shofar service usually includes three kinds of sounds:

The sequences vary according to the order of the prayers, and at the end one may hear a "tekiah gedolah," an especially long blast. Children do not need to learn the whole structure at once. A good first question is: which sound feels like a call? Which sounds like crying? Which sounds like a new beginning?

Kids' Version: How Do We Explain the Shofar?

The shofar is like an alarm clock for the heart. Not a clock that tells us to get out of bed, but a sound that reminds us to wake up inside: to apologize, choose good, pay attention to our words, and begin the year with one better action.

You can explain it to children this way:

On Rosh Hashanah we hear the shofar to remember that we have a chance to begin again. Its sound does not tell us exactly what to do. It asks us: what do we want to repair this year? Whom do we want to help? What kind word can we say?

A short activity for children:

  1. Draw a shofar in the center of the page.
  2. Write three words next to it: sorry, thank you, beginning.
  3. Each child chooses one word and shares a small action that matches it.
  4. End with a quiz question: what name does the Torah give Rosh Hashanah that reminds us of the sound of the shofar?

What Should a Printable Shofar Page Include?

A good printable page should be short, clear, and useful even without a phone in hand. It should include:

For a kids' PDF, add a shofar illustration, a coloring area, and one open question instead of long text. For a family or classroom, add a small quiz table: "sound name," "what it sounds like," and "what it reminds us of."

Rosh Hashanah Quiz: Shofar Questions

Here are quiz questions that can be used in the page:

  1. What is the long, straight shofar sound called?
  2. What is the difference between tekiah, shevarim, and teruah?
  3. In which month do many communities sound the shofar before Rosh Hashanah?
  4. Why do many have the custom not to blow the shofar on the eve of Rosh Hashanah?
  5. Which Torah verse calls Rosh Hashanah "a day of teruah"?
  6. What can the shofar remind us of at the beginning of a new year?

Suggested CTA: Open a family Rosh Hashanah quiz and add a "shofar sounds" round: children identify the sound, adults add meaning, and the whole family chooses one good action for the new year.

FAQ

Do you have to be in synagogue to hear the shofar?

Ideally, the shofar is heard as part of the Rosh Hashanah prayers in synagogue. Many communities also arrange public shofar soundings. Anyone who cannot attend a full service should check a local option and ask a rabbi or community leader.

Is the shofar sounded at night?

The Rosh Hashanah shofar is sounded during the day. The holiday nights include prayers and festive meals, but the shofar blasts belong to the daytime prayers.

Why is the shofar sounded during Elul?

The Elul blasts are a custom meant to awaken the heart and prepare a person for Rosh Hashanah. They are not the same as the mitzvah blasts of Rosh Hashanah itself.

Why is the shofar not sounded on the eve of Rosh Hashanah?

In many communities, the shofar is not sounded on the eve of Rosh Hashanah in order to distinguish between the preparatory blasts of Elul and the required blasts of the holiday.

What should children know before the shofar blasts?

Tell them that the mitzvah is to listen. You can ask them to identify the three kinds of sounds and think about what each sound brings to mind: a call, crying, joy, a beginning, or a request.

Can we print a shofar page for the holiday table?

Yes. A short page with an explanation, illustration, quiz question, and personal writing space can turn the shofar from a synagogue topic into a family conversation about the new year.