The central mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah is listening to the blasts of the shofar. Curiously, the ram's horn is blown not once but twice during the holiday prayers. The first time is immediately before the Musaf prayer. These blasts are called the "tekiot demeyushav"  ('blasts while sitting'). The second set of blasts take place during the Musaf prayer itself. These are called "tekiot deme'umad" ('blasts while standing'), as they are blown while the congregation is standing in prayer. Why do we blow the shofar twice?

Returning in Mind and Heart

"Seek out God when He is found. Call out to Him when He is near."  (Isaiah 55:6)

This verse draws our attention to two issues which every Ba'al Teshuvah (returnee) must address. He must "seek out God," and also "call out to Him." What is the difference between the two?

First, it is necessary to "seek out God." We need to restore the soul's light, dimmed by our mistakes and sins. Before going astray, we were aware of the pleasantness in serving God. We were conscious of God's greatness, and amazed by the opportunity to study His Torah and fulfill His will.

Sin, however, blinds the mind and numbs the heart. All of the wonderful revelations from God's immanence are lost. Therefore, the Ba'al Teshuvah must "seek out God." He needs to strive intellectually to recover his former enlightenment, to restore the joy in knowing God and His ways.

The second area requiring attention is the lost feeling of God's closeness and protection. The Ba'al Teshuvah needs to recover the perception of Divine favor, in both material and spiritual matters. To correct this loss, he must "call out to God." He needs to reach out to God in prayer. He needs to bridge the emotional estrangement, and restore the feeling of God's closeness. "Call out to Him when He is near." 

Shofar-Blasts to Clear the Mind and Open the Heart

The shofar is the tool that helps us accomplish both of these functions: to seek out God with our minds, and call out to God with our hearts.

The first set of blasts are blown before praying, while sitting. They correspond to the repentance of the mind: the calm and thoughtful introspection on our smallness and God's infinite greatness. These blasts rouse us to contemplate God and His ways.

The second set of shofar blasts takes place during the Musaf prayer. These blasts are an integral part of prayer. Like prayer, they are an emotional service of God. The blasts frighten and humble us. They call out for us to re-connect with God, to perceive His closeness and protection.

Confusing Satan

The Sages wrote (Rosh Hashana 16) that blowing the shofar on this Day of Judgment confuses the prosecuting angel and blocks his accusations. How?

The prosecuting angel has two possible lines of attack.

• He can accuse us of not acting in a manner appropriate to our great spiritual capabilities. We are blessed with a sublime soul, formed from God's Splendor, and yet we fail to correctly evaluate our place and purpose in life.

• Or, the prosecuting angel can use a diametrically-opposed argument: we are such small and insignificant creatures, our powers and intellect are so weak — how dare we sin before the omnipotent King?