Home -- Content: Series 7 (Laws) -- Translation: English -- Book: 1 (Tora) -- Part: 1 (Positive) -- Command: 170 -- Text
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The Sharia of Moses in the TORA
Part 1 - The 248 Positive Commandments of the Tora
170 - HEARING THE SHOFAR ON ROSH HASHANAH
The function of the shofar as described by Maimonides is as follows: “Although the blowing of the shofar on the New Year is a Scriptural decree, a suggestion is hidden therein; that is to say, (it proclaims, as it were,) ‘Awake ye sleepers from your sleep, and ye who are soundly asleep awake from your sound sleep; search your deeds, turn ye and repent, and remember your Creator. Ye who have forgotten the Truth by preoccupying yourselves with the vanities of the world, and have erred all your years in vanity and emptiness, which can neither profit nor succor – give heed to your souls, and mend your ways and deeds. Let everyone of you abandon his evil way, and his wicked thoughts.’”*
* Mishneh Torah, Mada, Hilchoth Teshubah III, 4