09/08/2026
Why Is There No Shofar Sounds or Music on Shabbat at Orthodox Congregations?
Today you will find Orthodox Synagogues not blowing the shofar on Rosha Hashana. The blowing of the shofar for Rosh Hashana will be done on Sunday because Rosh Hashana Shofar sound falls on Shabbat. Why? One of the rules defined as work is not to carry on the Shabbat and we are to rest and not work on the Shabbat. So, carrying a shofar or musical instrument is considered work, but since the destruction of the Temple rules were made that neither the shofar or music would be done on Shabbat.
During the Temple Era: When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem and a high court sat there, people did blow the shofar on Shabbat and played musical instruments inside the city even on Rosh Hashanah. The Levites at the Temple played music and it was the Priests who sounded the shofar even on Shabbat.
The Levites would sing when w**e libations were poured on the altar to accompany the communal burnt offerings (i.e., the daily offerings and the special offerings brought on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays), and the peace offerings brought on Shavuot.
They would also sing Hallel during the offering of the Paschal lamb, during Simchat Beit Hashoeva (the drawing of the water ceremony) on Sukkot, and when the bikkurim (first fruits) were brought.
Today Reform Jews, Jewish Renewal an Messianic Jewish congregations choose to blow the shofar even on Shabbat.
See you on Shabbat for Yom Teruah (Rosh HaShana)!
