How To Properly Clean A Shofar

Download Article

The shofar is an ancient Hebrew priestly instrument that has seen virtually no alterations in more than 5,000 years. It is said to mimic the sound of Yahweh's voice when he spoke at Mount Sinai, and it was used historically to call the people together for important events or to indicate a sacrifice. Hebrew fighters used the shofar to terrorize the enemy in battle. Tradition says that the sound of the shofar reduced the walls of Jericho to rubble. However, Biblical law forbade the sounding of the shofar in joy, indicating that the purpose was to bring the children of Israel to silence in the presence of God. In modern times, the shofar's liturgical use is limited to Rosh Hashanah, the New Year and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During the holiday, the shofar at a synagogue is blown 100 times each day, except when the holiday falls on Shabbat. The Ashkenazi shofar is made from a ram's horn. This is still the most preferred option, although the Sephardi shofar is made from an antelope. However, the traditional blessing may only be used with a shofar made from a kosher animal. According to Rav Kook, first Chief Rabbi of the pre-state Israel, the sounding of a shofar from a non-kosher animal is a "wake-up call that comes from antisemitic nations, warning the Jews to escape while they still can and flee to their own land....Whoever failed to listen to the calls of the first two shofars, will be forced to listen to the call of this last shofar."

Steps Download Article

1

Fill the horn with water to check it for leaks. If there are cracks or leaks in the horn, it is not acceptable to be used as a shofar, according to Jewish law and tradition.
2

Kosher animals are those that have split hooves and chew their cud. For the purpose of making a shofar, use either the ram's horn or antelope.
3

Place the horn into a roaster or other large pan, and cover the horn with water.
4

Boil the horn for 2 to 5 hours or until it is soft and you can remove the internal cartilage. Use a kitchen pick, such as those used to remove nuts from their shells, to clean the horn and make it hollow. If you do not have a pick, any thin object that can reach into the small spaces may be used to clean the shofar.
5

Thread a wire through the horn to measure the depth of the hollow space inside. Allow the horn to dry completely.
6

Measure 1 inch (2.54 cm) past the end of the hollow area, and mark that point on the horn. Cut the tip of the thoroughly-dried shofar horn off at the mark.
7

Drill a 1/8-inch (.32 cm) hole through the cut end of the shofar.
8

Carve a mouthpiece on the shofar horn, similar to that of a trumpet. Fit the mouthpiece to the individual who will blow the shofar during its liturgical use.

Add New Question

Question

What family is the shofar?

It operates on the same principals as brass, but it is not a brass instrument. I would say it is like a horn.
Question

Are there any home mixtures I can use to polish a shofar?

Heated beeswax is good, and wood varnish also works well. Of course, the shofar must be sanded with at least 300 grit sandpaper to achieve a mirror-like polish.
Question

What is the best way to sand the shofar if I want it smooth?

Take a shard of glass and use it to scrape the outside of the horn until it's smooth.
Question

Can this be made from wood?

No, you cannot make a Shofar out of wood. The Torah uses the shofar to represent the binding of Isaac. It must be made of a ram's horn.
Question

Instead of cutting the horn off the head can I let it sit in 80 degree weather for a couple of days, then just pull the horn off of the skull?

As long as it does not end up with cracks and splits and you remove the inner cartilage properly, I can't find a shofar making process that specifies one way of removing it over another.
Question

The hollow/solid portion of my horn is 250mm from the tip of the horn. If I move approx 25mm into the solid and cut it off here, the diameter of the mouthpiece will be approx 50mm. Is this right?

That sounds like it is right and will work! Make sure you can play it comfortably.
Question

Where do I buy a horn in order to make a shofar myself?

Ethan Parmet

Community Answer

Contact a local Rabbi or Scribe and ask them where you can find a close reliable source.
Question

The ram's horns we can find here in South Africa have a much longer solid part in the horn. If I cut off that part, not much of the horn is left. Can I just make a hole on the side to blow?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "just" making a hole, but according to OK Kosher certification, the minimum length of a shofar is about 3.16 – 3.76 inches.
Question

I have a Yemenite shofar with a small mouthpiece. Is it okay to cut it off an inch or so further down to make a bigger mouthpiece?

Menucha Prinsloo

Community Answer

If you want the shofar to be kosher, not just anyone can do it. You should ask a rabbi about this.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

To blow your shofar, purse your lips tightly and blow through them into the horn. Your lips will vibrate to create the sound of the shofar horn. For some people, this is easier to manage by blowing at the side, rather than the middle, of the lips.
Biblical commands dictate that the shofar have no alterations in the form gilding or painting. However, it is permissible to carve designs or add silver on the outside, as long as you do not create holes in the shofar horn.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

NEVER make a shofar from a non-kosher animal!

Things You'll Need

Horn of kosher animal - Ashkenazi ram's horn or Sephardi antelope
Roaster or large pan
Water
Stovetop
Pick
Wire
Saw
Drill with 1/8-inch (.32 cm) bit

References

About This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 49,785 times.

Reader Success Stories

"This helped me to under stand the difference between two of the shofars, one being understood to be the voice of..." more

Did this article help you?

Get all the best how-tos!

You're all set!