"Shofar" - (pl. Shofarot); the ram's horn; blown on Rosh HaShanah, accounting for the name of that Holiday, "Yom Teruah," the Day of Blowing the ram's Horn. The Shofar arouses thoughts of "Teshuvah", or Repentance, in the human being, and also commemorates two fundamental events in Jewish History. The first was "Akeidat Yitzchak," the Binding of Isaac, where Avraham, at the command of G-d, displayed willingness to sacrifice his son, Yitzchak, but was prevented from doing so by an Angel of the L-rd, and a ram was substituted for the son. (Bereshit 22: 1-19) The second was the Giving of the Torah at
Mt.
Sinai
, where Hashem revealed Himself to the Jewish People, amid thunder and lightning and the Call of the Shofar. (Shemot 19: 16-19)
Like Matzah on Pesach, which is a double symbol, expressing the ideas of freedom and slavery, the Shofar is also a double symbol. On one hand, it reflects triumph and redemption, yet it also represents fear and trembling.
According to the Talmud, the sequence of sounds should be "Tekiah, Teruah, Tekiah." The Tekiah is an unbroken note representing the positive, hopeful side of our attitude as we approach the Yom HaDin , the Day of Judgment. In between the Tekios is sandwiched a Teruah , representing our extreme anxiety as we approach the King of Kings for Judgment.
Generally the Shofar is blown by a person who is of good moral and religious character, not to mention possessed of a good set of lungs! A competent authority on Jewish Law should supervise the Shofar blowing, as there are many complex laws and requirements involved with its proper sounding. If a person cannot attend synagogue, the shofar may be blown for him or her at home.