Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with our Shofar Workshop

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with our Shofar Workshop hosted by Rabbi Elimelech Levy

We are pleased to announce that Chabad Youth NSW's Travelling Shofar Factory is returning for 2025! This unique, hands-on workshop allows students to connect deeply with the meaning of the shofar through a fully immersive experience. They’ll learn about its history, halachic significance, and even create their own real, functional shofar to take home in a canvas drawstring bag.

When: SUN 21 SEPT

Where: LEVEL 6 NEAR MAX BRENNER

Time: 1PM

Cost: FREE

What the Students do:

- Hear the sound of a real shofar and explore its purpose in Jewish tradition

- Sand, varnish, and prepare their own authentic shofar

- Discover the mitzvah in an age-appropriate, engaging format

- Walk away with pride and a keepsake they can use and cherish

Learn more about the Shofar Factory

The Shofar Factory offers an interactive, engaging, and sensory experience that guides participants through the various steps of making a shofar while explaining its deep significance. The workshop begins with a fascinating display of horns from different animals, encouraging participants to identify which horn belongs to each, giving the group a chance to see and even blow these unique instruments. As the horns are passed around, participants are encouraged to examine them closely, gaining a tactile sense of their structure and uniqueness.

Once the correct horn is identified, the group embarks on the process of creating a shofar from scratch. The first step involves determining how deep the opening in the horn is, which helps guide where to cut the shofar. Volunteers assist the facilitator in transforming the horn, cutting off part of the un-hollowed horn, and drilling the connection hole. After widening the hole to achieve the right sound, participants help smooth the horn using sand paper, making the mouthpiece comfortable for blowing. The workshop provides tips on how to best blow the Shofar, while also emphasizing its importance and relevance, especially during the High Holidays.

In the conclusion, the rabbi offers a crash course on the meaning behind the various shofar sounds and demonstrates with the freshly-made shofar. The workshop also delves into the cognitive aspect by focusing on science-based takeaways, and emphasizes that the mitzvah is not only to blow the horn but to listen attentively to its sound. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of the shofar’s message and how it can be applied throughout the year.