Today's culture is all about obtaining, maintaining, and repeatedly keeping your attention by any means necessary. Whether it's with shorter and shorter videos, crazier story lines, or bolder statements, the amount of messaging that blasts our senses is nothing short of overwhelming.

In simpler times, despite them having issues of their own, getting someone's attention took a sound much more intentional than a phone ping. It took giant brass bells, loud horns, and booming drums. Armies marched at certain sounds and retreats were called through specific trumpet calls. Trains were announced by huge steam powered whistles and antique cars had blaring horns. Going back millennia, sound has always been a foundational piece of communication. And while communication has changed drastically throughout the centuries, sound has remained a critical building block. 

So, what does this have to do with Yom Teruah? 

Well, the answer is simple: Yom Teruah is a divinely appointed time to fill the airwaves with a certain kind of sound - the shofar. Peoples around the world have used animal horns as the material for horns, flutes, cups, and pipes for centuries. For the Israelites, the ram's horn specifically was used as a holy instrument of alarm during their observance of ADONAI's Shabbatot and moedim. 

Traditionally, there are four specific types of shofar blasts required on Yom Teruah: the call to attention, the call to repentance, the call to battle, and the call to announce the coming king. For modern Americans, these sounds would be somewhat akin to hearing a tornado warning siren, a bugle playing Taps, a fire alarm or muster signal, and then an orchestral rendition of the US National Anthem all in a row. These are sounds that capture our attention above all else, commanding obedience, reverence, and respect. Likewise, the shofar blasts of the Israelites are supposed to do the same. 

The four shofar blasts for Yom Teruah (usually referred to as Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year) are:

• Tekiah: A long, loud blast that lasts about three seconds
• Shevarim: Three medium-length broken blasts that sound like crying
• Teruah: Nine or more rapid staccato rings
• Tekiah Gedolah: An extra-long blast that lasts about nine seconds

But in a world full of constant noise, we can forget to attune our ears to the sounds that God has deemed important. These blasts are important enough that celebrating the Day of Blasting is an eternal ordinance to the Children of Israel. We are supposed to be able to recognize the sound of His shofar and be prepared to fly into action. So, take a moment today and inspect your heart. Do you know the sound of His Horn? Will you be ready to attend Him? To repent? To battle in His Name? To hail the Eternal King of Kings?

If there's even a tiny bit of doubt, fear not! We've put together a little bookmark for you so that you too can participate in ADONAI's Day of Blasting. We've compiled the scriptures to read and given tips on what each sound should be. So download your bookmark today via our TLV Bible App and get ready for Yom Teruah 2024 on October 2-3!