A Shofar Symbolizes the Binding of the Evil Inclination

The Gemara (Rosh Hashana 16a) states: “Why do we use a Shofar [horn] from a ram? [Answer:] Because God said, ‘Blow before me a Shofar of a ram and I will recall the merit of “Akeidat Yitzchak”—Yitzchak’s [Isaac’s] binding on the altar. [Avraham offered-up a ram after he was forbidden to sacrifice his son]. Furthermore, I will view you as if you have bound yourselves on the altar’.”

“Shelah HaKadosh” writes: The “Akeidah” [the binding] which God agrees to see is our binding of the “Yetzer Hara” (the Evil Inclination), “tying up” his (i.e. our) hands, feet, eyes, and hearts, and directing them towards Heaven. At the moment of Shofar blowing, we should make ourselves like “Olah” [wholly burnt] sacrifices, which are entirely burnt on the altar. We must not allow any stray thought to interfere, but rather repent from any sins that involved our hands, feet, eyes, hearts, or any other “messenger” of the Yetzer Hara [the Evil Inclination within us, often named “Satan”].

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Author: The Torah Spring

Keywords: Binding of Isaac, Binding, Isaac bound, Abraham binds Isaac, Sacrifice of Isaac, Isaac sacrificed, Shofar, Ram horn, Horn, Trumpet, Yezer Ha-Ra, Yezer Hara, Yetzer Hara, Yetzer Ha-Ra, Yetser Hara, Yetser ha ra, Evil urge, Evil desire, Evil Inclination, The Evil Inclination, Satan, Evil one, Deliver us from evil, The Evil One, Jesus' temptation, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, Jesus's temptation, Jesus's temptation in the wilderness, Tempted of the devil, Tempted of Satan, Satan tempts Jesus, The devil tempts Jesus, Tempts Jesus, Christ's temptation, Christ's temptation in the wilderness, Satan tempts, The devil tempts, Temptation from within, Sin within

Bible reference(s): Genesis 22:1-14, Psalms 81:3, Joel 2:15

Source: Shlomo Katz (ed.), “Parashat Nitzavim,” Hamaayan/The Torah Spring, Volume V, No. 46.

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