The classic Shofar is a very common Judaica item nowadays. It is not unusual for private individuals and households to own their own. Many wish to learn how to blow their Shofar so they can help others fulfill the commandment of hearing the Shofar being blown on the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah.
It is therefore imperative for the Shofar-buyer to be savvy when it comes to Halachic requirements of the Shofar. It is worthwhile to know what would lead to a Shofar being regarded as non-Kosher as such a Shofar is invalid and one cannot fulfill the commandment of Shofar with it.
Here are some pointers on what to look out for:
- It is crucial that the Shofar comes with certification verifying that it is Kosher. This will often be in the form of a sticker attached to the Shofar. This certification assures one that the source of the horn was a Kosher animal. One should be aware that this certification will usually not take into account other factors that could invalidate the Shofar. One must make sure that the certification also indicates a lack of holes in the horn and that it has no coating.
- Regarding defects on the horn itself, it is worthwhile explaining the process of making a Shofar briefly as it will make understanding what makes a Shofar non-Kosher clearer. The horn is boiled to soften it. The interior of the horn is then cleaned out using a long drill bit. Lastly, it is shaped, sanded and polished. If at any point in the process the worker creates a hole accidentally in the Shofar and fills the hole in, this would make the Shofar invalid. The only way to prevent such cases in places where the workers are paid per Shofar is to ensure that there is supervision at all times.
- Some non-trustworthy Shofar manufacturers will cover Shofarot with lacquer. This makes them stronger and simultaneously hides any defects. It also makes the Shofar non-Kosher as it changes the sound of the Shofar.
- Similarly, decorative coverings on Shofarot, such as with silver or leather, also invalidate them, making them good only to look at and not to actually use in religious ceremonies.
- For a Kosher purchase, it is advisable to check who made the Shofar, who gave the certification and that the certification covers all stages of the Shofar preparation.
- One main reason for the fact that larger Shofarot are considerably more expensive than small Shofarot is that they are harder to produce and are more likely to become invalid in the process of production.
The country of origin of the Shofar one buys is unimportant. The only thing that is vital is that it must have a reliable certification if one intends to use it on Rosh Hashanah.
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