1. Listening to the voices of the Ram’s horn
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Zikhron – Yom Teruah רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה ויוֹם תְּרוּעָה
Listening to the voices of the Ram’s horn 1

2. Why does Rosh Hashanah have three names?
Yom Zikhron (Day of Remembrance)
“ADONAI spoke to Moses saying: “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael (children of Israel),
saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a
Shabbat rest, a zikhron (memorial) of blowing (shofarot), a holy convocation. You
are to do no regular work, and you are to present an offering made by fire
to ADONAI.” –Leviticus 23:23-25
Yom Teruah (Day of Sounding)
“On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a sacred assembly. You are to
do no laborious work. It is for you a day for sounding the shofar (Ram’s horn).”
–Numbers 29:1 2

3. Why does Rosh Hashanah have three names?
Rosh Hashanah (Head/Beginning of The [Civil] Year)
“In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, B’Rosh Hashanah (in the head of the year), in the tenth day
of the month (Yom Kippur)—in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very
day—the hand of ADONAI was on me, and He brought me there (Temple Mount/Jerusalem).”
–Ezekiel 40:1
Note:
According to rabbinical tradition, there are in fact four New Years, each serving a unique purpose:
1.) Rosh Hashanah “Head of the year” (1 Tishrei)
2.) Tu Bishevat “New year for trees” (15 Shevet)
3.) Ecclesiastical “New Year for redemption” (1 Nisan)
4.) Fiscal “New Year for tithing of cattle (1 Elul) 3

4. Why is Rosh Hashanah known as the civil New Year?
Israel’s spiritual or ecclesiastical New Year occurs on the first of Nisan (Bud, Spring, Miracles), and sets in motion the events of Pesach: Passover or, To Have Compassion on). This is the only explicitly God ordained New Year (Exodus 12:2). It is a celebration of Israel’s physical and spiritual deliverance.
Rosh Hashanah on the other hand, observed on the first of Tishrei (Beginning) finds its origin in the days when Israel was in exile in Babylon, and metaphorically as sojourners in a fallen world: in preparation for future physical and spiritual redemption. Rosh Hahsanah is an opportunity to allow God to prepare (Sanctify) us for Yeshua’s return, the judgement and eternal life. 4

5. Two New Years, Two New Beginnings Yochanan (John) 3:3-8
Civil New Year Spiritual New Year
Physical Birth Spiritual Birth
Born Born again 5

6. A Day of Remembrance
One of Rosh Hashanah’s names is Day of Remembering.
A day for remembering what?
The text of Leviticus 23:23-25 answers by saying:
“You are to have a Shabbat rest, a zikhron (memorial) of blowing (shofarot),”
Simply put, it’s a day for remembering Who the ram’s horn represents, what the ram’s horn sounds like, and what those sounds teach us about listening to God. 6

7. What the sounds of the Shofar mean?
The Main Rabbinic themes
God as Creator (from nothing). Most Jews agree that Rosh Hashanah represents G-d’s creation, either figuratively or literally (Genesis 1-2). The Rabbis teach that the 1 of Tishrei commemorates the day that God created the heavens and the earth.
God as Merciful King (Exodus 15:18; Numbers 23:21; Deuteronomy 33:5; Psalm 93:1; Isaiah 6:1; 44:6)
God as Judge (Job 21:22; Psalm 7:11; Psalm 35:24; Psalm 82:8; Ecclesiastes 3:17) 7

8. God our Father and King
God is the Creator King of the Universe whether we acknowledge Him or not. He will one day judge us, whether we like to think about it or not. He is also King over each of our lives, whether we admit it to ourselves or not.
It remains then for us to choose between merely being subjects in His kingdom or becoming His sons and daughters by receiving His offer of adoption through Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). 8

10. Yeshua (Jesus) the Ram
The use of the ram’s horn finds its origin in the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22), and is a symbol of redemption, strength, a call to war, a call to gathering, a call to preparation and the sound of coronation (among other things).
Both Isaac and the ram of Genesis 22 are types for the Messiah Yeshua
Yeshua, the Ram of G-d (with respect to sacrificial redemption), whose voice is reflected in the sound of the ram’s horn, is connected to each of the themes of Rosh Hashanah. 10

11. The sounds of the Shofar and Yeshua (Jesus)
Voice (kol) and King of Creation: John 1
Repentance: Psalm 139:23-24
King of Kings, King of Mercy: 1 Timothy 6:14-16
Judge: 2 Timothy 4:1 11

12. Listening to the Voice of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn)
Before sounding the ram’s horn we recite the following blessing:
Baruch atah HaShem, Elohaynu Melekh Ha-olam, asher kidishanu b’mitzvah tov
vitzivanu l’shmoa kol shofar”
“All blessing comes from You L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified
us with His right actions and has instructed us to listen to the voice of the ram’s
Horn”
This blessing is of great significance to those of us who have meet and been
transformed by the Ram of God Yeshua our Messiah. We are to listen to the Messiah’s
voice (kol), the very essence of creation and the thread that joins creation to the
Kingship of God and His righteous judgement. 12

13. The voice (Kol) of the Ram
“Ha-col b’seder” - “All is in Order”
The Hebrew Col meaning, “All”, and the Hebrew Kol meaning, “Voice”, sound identical.
“Ha-kol b’seder” - “The voice is in order”
Here, “Voice” is considered a reference to the Universe or the essence that holds the Universe together. As Messianic followers of Yeshua we’re able to see the representation of Messiah Himself (John 1:1) in this common phrase, both as our All and as the Voice Who created all things. The Voice of the Ram is powerfully illuminated in these few words. We are in fact saying, “Because Yeshua exists, everything is in order”. 13

14. The voice of Yeshua in us
The “Kol”, voice of each shofar is unique and diverse.
The voice of our Messiah speaks to each one of us in a unique way and when we come together for the Holy gatherings of HaShem, Yeshua’s voice unites us in harmony to bring glory to G-d. We are therefore tasked with the simple obligation of listening to the voice of Yeshua. Each sound of the shofar conveys an aspect of His voice: 14

15. Listening to the Voice of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn)
Let’s listen and contemplate the various sounds of the shofar and the ways Yeshua speaks (kol) to us through each variation.
Tekiah: one long, straight blast (Acknowledging the Kingship and Holiness of the Creator)
Shevarim: three medium, wailing sounds (The cry of the repentant)
Teruah: 9 quick blasts in short succession (An alarm warning of the coming judgement)
Tekiah Gedolah: one extremely long blast (The final Shofar announcing Judgement) 15

16. Listening to the Voice of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn)
Tekiah: (Acknowledging the Kingship and Holiness of the Creator)  
“Shema, hear, receive, contemplate, listen, understand, consider, remember and
observe. O Israel (One who overcomes in G-d)! The L-RD (MERCIFUL FATHER) is
our G-d (Son and Ruler), the L-RD (HOLY SPIRIT OUR COMFORTER) is echad
(a complex and intense unity)!” –Deuteronomy 6:4
“ADONAI (YHVH: Mercy) reigns—He is robed in majesty!
ADONAI (YHVH: MERCY) has robed and armed Himself with strength.
Yes, the world is firmly established—unshakable.
Your throne is established from of old.
You are from everlasting.” –Psalm 93:1-2 16

17. Listening to the Voice of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn)
Shevarim: (The cry of the repentant, those who turn toward God)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Examine me, and know my anxious thoughts,
and see if there be any offensive way within me,
and lead me b’derekh (in the way) everlasting.” –Psalm 139:23-24 17

18. Listening to the Voice of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn)
Teruah: a call to right action in drawing near to completion, an alarm of preparation
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow
weary.” –Galatians 6:9 18

19. Listening to the Voice of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn)
Tekiah Gedolah: The final Shofar (Ram’s Horn) announcing Yom Ha-Din
(the Day of Judgement and the Olam Habah (World to come)
“let’s consider how to stimulate one another to love and right action, not forsaking
our gathering together for holy purpose, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day (Ha-Din: The
Judgement) drawing near.” –Hebrews 10:24-25
“For the Lord (Yeshua) Himself will descend from heaven with a Loud voice
(Kol Gedolah), with the voice of the archangel and with the shofar of Hashem,
and the dead in Messiah will rise first.” –1 Thessalonians 4:16 19

20. Aveinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King .1
Be gracious to us and answer us, for we are without merit;
Deal with us in compassion and faithful love and deliver us.
We have sinned before You
We have no King except You 20

21. Aveinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King .2
Deal with us kindly for the sake of Your name
Renew a year of good for us
Annul every evil decree against us
Exalt the majesty of Your Messiah 21

22. Aveinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King .3
Be gracious to us and answer us, for we are without merit;
Deal with us in compassion and faithful love and deliver us.
Forgive and pardon our sins
Blot out our transgressions and remove our sins from Your sight 22

23. Aveinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King .4
May we return to You in perfect repentance
Bring glory to Israel Your people
Provide us with Your abundant blessings 23

24. Aveinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King .5
Grant our prayers for Your sake, if not for ours
Be gracious to us and answer us, for we are without merit;
Deal with us in compassion and faithful love and deliver us.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
–1 Yochanan (John) 1:9 24