shofar

or sho·phar

[ shoh-fer; Sephardic Hebrew shaw-fahr; Ashkenazic Hebrew shoh-fuhr, shoh-fahr ]

noun

, Judaism.

, plural sho·fars, Hebrew sho·froth, sho·frot, sho·fros [shaw-, frawt, shoh, -f, r, ohs, shoh-, frohs],

1. a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, sounded in Biblical times chiefly to communicate signals in battle and announce certain religious occasions and in modern times chiefly at synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

shofar

/ ˈʃəʊfɑː; ʃɔˈfar /

noun

1. Judaism a ram's horn sounded in the synagogue daily during the month of Elul and repeatedly on Rosh Hashanah, and by the ancient Israelites as a warning, summons, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of shofar¹

First recorded in 1860–65, from Hebrew shōphār “ram's horn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of shofar¹

from Hebrew shōphār ram's horn

Example Sentences

When the blast of the shofar ushered in the new year, I thought about the soul-searching happening inside everyone around me.

From Los Angeles Times

Philosemitism: A term referring to the exaggerated or grandiose “love” displayed by Christian Zionists and other Christian conservatives toward Jews, which often involves the adoption of certain Jewish practices, such as blowing the shofar.

From Salon

At a campaign rally in October, a huge screen with the image of a man wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and blowing a shofar suddenly illuminated the stadium.

From Los Angeles Times

As Jay Michaelson at the Forward wrote, the church uses "the trappings of Jewish observance," including a "shofar blast," a menorah in their log, and sermons featuring Wilks using — and often butchering — Hebrew words.

From Salon

The crowd held its breath at Sinai Temple as Nilli Salem played an extended note on the shofar, an instrument typically made from a ram’s horn and used in important Jewish rituals.

From Los Angeles Times