In a worship service almost defined by its eloquence, Judaism mandates an unintelligible noise.
“Happy is the people who knows the blast.”
Jennie Litvack, in memoriam.
At least one of them might stem from the days when Jews ululated.
From King David to American Pentecostals, boisterous worshippers have always annoyed those who prefer their worship quiet and dignified. “Stop jumping up and down—we’re Episcopalians,”. . .
The shofar is blown throughout the month of Ellul except for today: the day before Rosh Hashanah. Why the abstention?