The Haredi rabbinical group Benoam is promoting an idea that will allow the people of Israel to hear the shofar blown on Rosh Hashanah at the same time nationwide, both to avoid spreading coronavirus and to encourage unity.
Benoam is suggesting that everyone who plans to blow a shofar on the holiday do so at the same time – 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
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According to the rabbis, "The initiative was born out of enormous demand from the traditional community, which takes care to hear the shofar but is worried that this year, coronavirus will prevent them from attending synagogue or other places of prayer like they do every year."
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Riani, the founder of Benoam, said, "The most important symbol of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar. The idea of all shofars being blown at the same time provides a solution for tens of thousands of people nationwide who want to hear it.
According to Riani, the idea will prevent people from having to go far from their homes to hear the shofar, and keep elderly and vulnerable people at home while allowing them to enjoy the moment.
"This is also an important message about what we are most missing as a society, which is unity. When all the people of Israel hear the shofar at once, everyone will be united for a wonderful moment as the new year begins. I'm certain that this will have a positive effect on the year as a whole and on Israeli society," Riani said.
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