Shofar - Natural Finish, Manmade Materials - Not Kosher
Written: Aug 28 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: good looking. nice sound.
Cons: not Kosher for religious purposes.
The Bottom Line: I like the look and sound, but would still prefer a Shofar acceptable in all settings.
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| naphtalia's Full Review: Shofar Natural Finish |
Not all Jews feel the same about keeping Kosher. I know folks who built houses with two separate kitchens - one for dairy and one for meat. Others have separate sets of dishes for dairy and meat. Still others choose to observe certain of the restrictions, but to ignore others (No cheese on my burger, but a strip of bacon would be okay.) People find those things that are important to them.
So it is with the laws Judaism has about the Shofar. A Shofar is a horn used for religious purposes. It can be sounded in order to usher in the New Year, or to announce a New Moon. It can also be used for theatrical and musical purposes. According to the laws surrounding the shofar, if may be made from the horn of any animal except a cow or calf. (Please don't ask for explanations of these laws. They are what they are.If you need more detail, contact your local rabbi.) In truth, however, many Jews are unaware of the laws, or if they are aware don't feel affected by them.
For the record, this is a synthetic kudu horn and would not be considered acceptable for religious purposes. It would be acceptable for theatrical and musical purposes. It is also acceptable for those seeking simply a decorative piece. Does it matter? That depends on you and the purposes for which you are acquiring a Shofar. It is important, however, that you have that information before purchasing.
I remember sitting in the synnagogue as a child on Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - and hearing the sound of the Shofar being blown. It is a musical instrument mentioned frequently in the Torah, the Talmud and assorted rabbinic literature. Its sound is awe-inspiring and haunting and unique. This synthetic shofar is made of fiberglass. It is 41" long and is made to look like the horn of a Kudu antelope. The coloring is good, though I find the finish a bit shiny to my eye. It is possible to polish horns to that level of shine, but it just doesn't seem quite right. That's a personal asthetic.
As with a shofar made of horn, the mouthpiece is merely an opening cut into the narrow end. Sometimes the end is left flat, and sometimes it is more shaped. The synthetic shofar I got to try out had a simple flat cut down the tip. Experience tells me that this could be shaped using a Dremel tool or wish non-power sanding tools....but who has the patience to do it without power tools?
The synthetic shofar has a reasonably good sound. A shofar is blown by buzzing into the mouthpiece as one would with brass instruments. The shape of the horn and the ability of the Ba'al Tekiah (Master of the Blast....or, in my house Master Blaster) determine the specific sound. This is one of the reasons I prefer not to buy shofars on-line. The horns can be fine, but there is a distinct advantage to being able to try out a few Shofars before you decide on the one you want.
Last year, I only encountered one synthetic shofar. This is the second one I've come across now. They were similar in shape and sound, but not precisely alike. This is a good looking instrument.
There are Jews today who would probably prefer a synthetic shofar because they favor animal rights. There are others who will never break with tradition. If you need a Shofar for religious purposes, you might want to consider what your own thoughts are about this one.
Recommended:
Yes
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naphtalia
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