Welcoming the New Year

Welcoming the New Year

Mixed media on coloured paper.

In 2008 (Jewish year 5769) I was commissioned to do an artwork for presentation to the Mayor of Ra’anana, Israel, on the ocassion of Rosh Hashanah (Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. A ceremonial horn, called a “shofar” is blown, reminding Jews that G-d is king.).
This mixed media drawing of a shofar being blown is one of a number of drawings I did as preliminary pieces for the final commissioned item.

Rosh Hashanah is called “Yom T’ruah” (the day of the shofar blast).
The shofar says, “Wake up from your (moral) sleep. You are asleep. Get up from your slumber. You are in a deep sleep. Search for your behaviour. Become the best person you can. Remember G-d, the One Who created you.” (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance).

The expert who blows (or “blasts” or “sounds”) the shofar is termed the Tokea (lit. “Blaster”) or Ba’al Tekia (lit. “Master of the Blast”).

The shofar is used mainly on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is blown in synagogues to mark the end of the fast at Yom Kippur, and blown at four particular occasions in the prayers on Rosh Hashanah.
The shofar is mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud and rabbinic literature. The blast of a shofar emanating from the thick cloud on Mount Sinai made the Israelites tremble in awe (Exodus 19, 20).
In the Temple in Jerusalem, the shofar was sometimes used together with the trumpet. On New-Year’s Day the principal ceremony was conducted with the shofar, which instrument was placed in the centre with a trumpet on either side; it was the horn of a wild goat and straight in shape, being ornamented with gold at the mouthpiece. On fast-days the principal ceremony was conducted with the trumpets in the centre and with a shofar on either side.
On those occasions the shofarot were rams’ horns curved in shape and ornamented with silver breast at the mouthpieces.

According to the Talmud, a shofar may be made from the horn of any animal except that of a cow or calf, although a ram is preferable.
A crack or hole in the shofar affecting the sound renders it unfit for ceremonial use. A shofar may not be painted in colours, but it may be carved with artistic designs.

Welcoming the New Year belongs to the following groups:

Art of the Middle East, Bagels and Lox - Jewish themed art and writing, Fine Arts, Realist Traditional Art, Religious Art & Photography and Spiritual Art Available for sale as

Greeting Cards and Matted Prints