From Auschwitz to Jerusalem: The shofar and the unbroken Jewish chain

A personal Rosh Hashanah column tracing the meaning of the shofar as a connecting thread in the chain of Jewish tradition, from Auschwitz to Jerusalem. The author describes the power of the shofar as a collective memory voice, and cites the story of cantor Naftali Stern who wrote prayers on a cement sack in the Wolfsberg camp, and the story of the shofar blowing in Auschwitz. The column calls for reflection on what this generation passes on.

A personal Rosh Hashanah column by a writer for Walla! tracing the meaning of the shofar as a connecting thread in the chain of Jewish tradition, from Auschwitz to Jerusalem. The author describes the power of the shofar as a collective memory voice, and cites the story of cantor Naftali Stern, who was deported to Auschwitz, separated from his wife and four children, and toward Rosh Hashanah 1945 wrote prayers from memory in pencil on torn cement sacks in the Wolfsberg camp. Another story is brought of Chaim Farkash from Munkacs, who described how in Auschwitz they found a shofar among the belongings, gave up their meal time, prayed and blew the shofar. The column deals with the question of passing on to future generations, the connection between pain and choosing life, and the hope that the chain will not be broken. The author uses poetic and emotional language, and incorporates quotes from the prophet Isaiah and from Pirkei Avot.