Shofar (號角)

經太太提醒之後，想在這裏略略介紹一吓Shofar给大家認識。

Shofar，山羊角所做成的號角，這是希伯來人猶太教所特別使用的器物；尤其在猶太新年(Rosh Hashanah) 的宗教儀式吹奏時。

羅什‧哈桑納即係希伯來文： ראש השנה ro’sh ha-shānāh，英文寫法係Rosh Hashanah。Rosh有“最初”、“開始”嘅意思，而Ha-Shanah有“改變”、“更新”嘅意思，換言之，Rosh Hashanah就係指“一年嘅開始”，係一個猶太人慶祝新年嘅節日，呢個節日係僅次於贖罪日一個最重要嘅聖日。

Rosh Hashanah 第一日叫吹角節，猶太人會去猶太會堂進行三次祈禱，而最後一次要吹號角(shofar)，總共吹三聲，第一聲係提醒啲人上帝先係世界嘅主宰。第二聲係重申上帝係世界嘅判官。第三聲係警告啲人要敬畏上帝同埋要相信上帝。

不過吹號角喺古代猶太人嚟計，其實係一種戰爭嘅警報，所以吹號角對猶太人嚟講其實重有另一重意義，就係唔好忘記猶太人過往經歷過所有戰爭嘅歷史。(轉載自維基百科全書)

在吹角節 (利未記 23:23-25; 民数記 29:1-6) 要「吹角作記念」可從兩方面去了解：一方面是神提醒百姓，叫他們記起他們的義務，預備自己去迎接這一個月為他們所配備的莊重儀式。别方向面是百姓提示神，叫神想起衪的約，並衪對他們自己和列祖的慈愛。(轉載自聖經新釋 - 證道出版社)

The Shofar, a well know symbol of Rosh Hashanah, is one of the earliest instruments used in Jewish music. Usually made from a rams horn, a shofar can also be made from the horns of other animals, including those of a goat or sheep. It is the one musical instrument that has not changed in over 5,000 years.

In Biblical times the shofar was blown to announce an important event, such as the alarm of war or the coming of peace. The Great shofar is said to have been sounded during the greatest event in all Jewish history, the giving of the ten commandments to Moses at Mount Sinai.

The blowing of the Shofar is the only specific commandment for Rosh Hashanah. Just as trumpeters announced the presence of their mortal king, the Shofar is used by Jews to proclaim the coronation of the King of King.The rams horn is blown 100 times. It is an appropriate symbol as it reminds Jews everywhere of the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to fulfill God's command. At the last moment God ordered Abraham to exchange Isaac with a sacrificial lamb. (The above material just for reference only since I got it from some web sites.)

If you would like to see more detail information, you might visit the following web site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shofar