Without the Shofar Blast: The Spiritual Message of Rosh Hashanah Falling on Shabbat

Rabbi Ariel Goren explains the spiritual significance of Rosh Hashanah falling on Shabbat, when the shofar is not blown. He addresses public concerns following the October 7 massacre, emphasizing that the sanctity of Shabbat replaces the shofar and brings a message of mercy and hope. The rabbi calls for optimism and positive language.

Rabbi Ariel Goren, head of the Nobel Prize Winners community in Rishon LeZion, is interviewed on Shira Kai Cohen's program and explains the deep meanings of Rosh Hashanah falling on Shabbat. He addresses public concern, especially after the events of the October 7 massacre, that the absence of the shofar blast might bring bad luck. The rabbi explains this is a mistaken perception, and recalls pivotal positive events in history that occurred precisely in years when the holiday fell on Shabbat, such as the entry into the Land of Israel in the days of Joshua bin Nun and the building of the Tabernacle. He details the halachic explanation: refraining from blowing the shofar on Shabbat is not a Torah decree but a rabbinic enactment, for fear one might carry the shofar into the public domain. On a spiritual level, the sanctity of Shabbat itself performs the same function as the shofar's sound and arouses mercy. The rabbi calls for optimistic language, and quotes the Lubavitcher Rebbe who called such a year a 'Shabbat year' of rest and delight. He notes that this is a rare year recurring once every 27 years, and concludes with a call for unity: 'May we be the head and not the tail.'