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We are told many meanings of the shofar-blowing. In fact, the
leading Jewish sage in the tenth century C.E., Saddia Gaon, listed ten major
ones, each with a scriptural basis. Rabbi Saddia explained that the sound of the
shofar should call to mind:
1) the creation of the world
2) the beginning of the new year
3) the Mt. Sinai experience
4) the inspiring words of the prophets
5) the destruction of the Holy Temple, and
6) the Binding of Isaac.
It should also arouse and increase in us:
7) fear and awe of G-d Al-mighty
8) fear and awe for the Day of Judgment
9) belief in the future ingathering of the exiles and ultimate
redemption of Mashiach, and inspire our yearning for it, and
10) belief in the future Resurrection of the Dead.
(His list and attendant verses may be found in English in "Book
of our Heritage," among other sources.)
Keep in mind that while all of these ten are true and excellent
interpretations, and are good to have in mind before or during the actual
moments of the shofar-blowing, we cannot single out one of them or even all of
them collectively as the real reason why the shofar is blown on Rosh
Hashanah. The official reason is quite simple; G-d instructed in the Torah that
the shofar should be blown "on the first day of the seventh month". But He did
not confide in us what this commandment signifies to Him.
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