Rosh Hashanah
Shofar, So Good
SHOFAR BLOWERS PREP FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS
SASHA ROGELBERG | STAFF WRITER
y the time the High Holidays are over, Jeremy Cooper needs to go
to the chiropractor.

Blowing shofar at Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley daily for the month
of Elul and for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Cooper is used to the
feeling of clenching his shoulders and neck muscles, having tired arms
from keeping them outstretched to support the horn.

For Cooper, the physical fatigue that follows the end of Yom Kippur is
encouraging; it means he’s been “doing it right.”
“It’s hard to keep your hand up there, holding a seven-pound instrument
for two or three minutes!” Cooper said.

Other area shofar blowers share Cooper’s experience. Th e process
of blowing shofar for the High Holidays is taxing, both physically and
mentally. Preparation begins months in advance.

“I probably spend about a half an hour a day practicing ... starting
probably a month before Elul,” said Susan Weiss, one of the shofar
blowers at Germantown Jewish Centre.

Weiss has been blowing shofar for about seven years, encouraged to
Susan Weiss started blowing shofar
seven years ago as a way to become
more involved in High Holiday services.

Wishing an Aliyah Tovah to
the thousands of Olim who made
Israel their home this year.

We look forward to helping
thousands more in the
year ahead. Shana Tovah!
FACILITATE • ADVOCATE • EDUCATE • CELEBRATE
READY TO COME HOME?
www.nbn.org.il/cominghome • 1-866-4-ALIYAH • aliyah@nbn.org.il
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD A STRONGER ISRAEL THROUGH ALIYAH
24 SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Courtesy of Susan Weiss
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