Shofar

A shofar is a ram's horn that is used as a musical instrument for religious purposes. It is used on Judaism's high holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and the month before Rosh Hashanah.

The Ba'al Tokea (Master of the Blast) is an expert who sounds the shofar. The Ba'al Tokea must be learned in Torah and God-fearing. If he is acceptable to the congregation, any Jew who is s acceptable to the congregation is eligible for this sacred position of Ba'al Tokea.

Shofar Links

Sounding the Shofar
..... listen to the sounds of a shofar

Symbolism of the Shofar
...information about the different sounds and links to audio files of a shofar

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

Shofar and Tallit

The tallit, also known as a talle, is a 4-cornered prayer shawl that is worn during the morning Jewish services. The tallit is sometimes also referred to as the arba kanfot, meaning the ‘four wings’ because of its four corners.

The tallit has tzitzit, special twined and knotted tied into each of the corners.
According to some branches of Judaism, only boys and men are required to wear a tallit at times. In Orthodox Judaism, women are discouraged from wearing a tallit, while in other groups this is allowed.

According to the Shema,

The Lord said to Moses: Instruct the people Israel that in every generation they shall put fringes on the corners of their garments...Looking upon the fringes, you will be reminded of all the commandments of the Lord and fulfill them and not be seduced by your heart or led astray by your eyes. Then you will remember andobserve all My commandments and by Holy before your God...
(Numbers 15:37-41)

 

Tefillin

The Tefillin (in English, phylacteries) are small leather boxes with straps that can vbe tied on the arm and around the head. Inside are parchment which contain Biblical verses from four sections of the Torah, including the first two paragraphs of the Shema.

The Tefillin are worn during morning prayer services, except on Sabbath and Festivals).

Wearing the Tefillin is a reminder of God's commandments.

The Tefillin that is worn on the arm represents the opportunity to serve God with the body through doing commandments, and the tefillin on the head represents the opportunity to serve God with the mind through study and belief.

The first paragraph of the Shema contains the commandment about the Tefillin.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words I command yiou this day shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children. You shall recite them at home and away, morning and night. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, they shall vbe a reminder above your eyes, and you shall inscrive them upon the doorposts of your home and upon your gate.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin