(Courtesy of Chabad Center of NW NJ) The shofar will once again be sounded to herald the Jewish New Year on the festival of Rosh Hashanah. The shofar, a ram’s horn, goes back to ancient biblical times to the days of Abraham.

“The purpose of the shofar is to arouse people to return to their purest selves,” said Rabbi Mordechai Baumgarten, program director at the Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey. “The shofar signifies the sincere heartfelt cry of a yearning child, representing the deep awakening and spiritual yearning latent within each of us.”

The Chabad Center is once again offering their shofar blowing to the home/hospital bound this Rosh Hashanah. The rabbis and several volunteers from the center are donning their walking shoes, with shofar in hand, to enable those who are unable to attend services to benefit from the mitzvah of shofar. The shofar blowers will be walking from the center, located in White Meadow Lake in Rockaway, to as far as Denville and Mountain Lakes.

“The sound of the shofar is also a symbol of hope, freedom and redemption, and we want to share that especially with those that can do with the encouragement,” said Rabbi Baumgarten.

If you know of anyone who is homebound or in a local hospital/nursing home, and would like to arrange for them to hear the shofar, you may call the center: 973-625-1525, Ext.202 or email: [email protected].

The Chabad Center will also be offering in person High Holiday services which are open to the public. For further information, call the Chabad Center or log on to their website: www.onetorahway.org.