If one sounds a shofar into a pit, or into a cistern, or into a large jug, if they clearly heard the sound of the shofar, they have fulfilled their obligation; but if they heard the sound of an echo, they have not fulfilled their obligation. And similarly, if one was passing behind a synagogue,or their house was adjacent to the synagogue, and they heard the sound of the shofar or the sound of the Scroll of Esther being read, if they focused their heart, they have fulfilled their obligation; but if not, they have not fulfilled their obligation. Mishnah Rosh haShanah 3:7
For many years, the one thing that a congregation could be sure of was that pretty much everyone in the congregation would show up at least twice a year - for the High HolyDays of Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. Whether or not someone was a Shabbat regular, or came to services for the various other holidays, there was still a sense that there were “High” HolyDays - somehow more important, or at least more crucial not to miss.
Perhaps the reason was the theme of those HolyDays - which are the bookends for the ten days of repentance. Jewish tradition teaches that as we celebrate a new year, we also take time to review the old year - for the purpose of t’shuvah - the process by which we reflect on our past behavior, make amends, and resolve to do better going forward. Then, to seal it all, we afflict ourselves by fasting on Yom Kippur and receive atonement as the sun sets. Catholicism has confession - and one can repent and be absolved on a regular basis. Other religions have different methods of atonement, and one can, of course, engage in t’shuvah at any time of the year. But, as a backstop, to make sure that we take time to catch anything that we may have missed on a regular basis, there is our once-yearly High HolyDays.
The Sages of old taught that there was one unique mitzvah for Rosh haShanah - and that was to hear the sound of the shofar. That seems simple enough. For Chanukah, we light a menorah for eight nights. For Sukkot, we put up a booth. For Pesach, we abstain from leavened foods for a week (and have a seder). But, as is explicated in the quote above, just by chance hearing the shofar is not enough. If you make the time to go to the synagogue, and you hear the shofar there, it seems that is ok. I guess the hope is that, while you are stuck in the pews, some of the other stuff will sink in. But, if you just hear the shofar in passing - as an echo, or while you are walking down the street nearby, it does not count - unless you have the right intent.
The shofar is a reminder: Not just a celebration that we have made it through another year (and can start writing 5785 on our checks), but that we have to pause, take time to reflect, and decide consciously how we want to go forward. Have we done everything in the right way that we wanted to? Have we gotten caught up in the day to day and forgotten about the long-term, about the deeper parts, about meaning and purpose? The shofar is our wake-up call - to shake us out of our day-to-day slumber; a splash of cold water in the face.
This year, let us resolve not only to hear the sound of the shofar, but to focus our hearts as well. Let us take the time to stop, to reflect, and then, and only then, can we go forward with (re)new(ed) purpose and truly celebrate a New Year.
L’shanah tovah tikateivu - may we take the time to write ourselves for a good new year.
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