It’s shofar time at HALB

Children from the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach’s Lev Chana Early Childhood Center Kindergarten and Nursery 4 enjoyed a special visit from Rabbi Yair Oppen, Sofer, Baal Tokaya and owner of Oppen Scrolls in Cedarhurst.

The children sat entranced as Rabbi Oppen stood before a table crammed with shofrot from many different kosher animals. He explained that it is the twisted horn of an ayal which is the preferred one we use to blow during Chodesh Elul and on Rosh Hashanah, because it reminds us of the horns of the animal that Avraham Aveinu pulled free from the bush. This Shofar reminds Hashem how Avraham listened to Him and loved doing His mitzvot.

Rabbi Oppen demonstrated how twisted horns also remind us that we need to be humble — bent over — when we daven to Hakodesh Baruch Hu.

The children were able to tell Rabbi Oppen that we blow the Shofar to tell us to wake up and do Teshuva and Mitzvot, and to be aware that the King of the Universe, Hashem, is coming.

They were excited help Rabbi Oppen demonstrate how the three different kolot sounded like the sounds we make when we cry. The children carefully felt the smooth and rough shofrot that were passed around.