In a few days we will be starting the Jewish Year of 5771.  Some people believe it's the number of years since the creation of the world, while others believe it's since the creation of human beings.  In any case, this is time to reflect about the past year.

One of the most beautiful traditions that we share during our tefillot is the sounding of the Shofar.  It's a really strange instrument (really, it's a ram's horn) with a really distinct sound.   It amazes all of us when we hear the Tekia, Shevarim and T'rua.

I am sharing these sounds with the children from the David Posnack Hebrew Day School and the Brodzki Early Childhood program.  It is incredible to see how the sounds make their faces light up.

Thinking about the Shofar, I would like to share a story from the Maggid of Dubna with you:

"Once upon a time a man was visiting a friend in his town.  They were having lunch together when suddenly they heard the noise of sirens and whistles.  The man's first reaction was to ask 'What's happening?' And his friend answered 'There is a fire and that is how we extinguish it.'

"The next day, before returning home, the man went to a special shop and bought many sirens and whistles.  Later, when he was back home, there was a fire at the house in front of his.  The man said to his neighbors "Don't worry, I will take of the fire."  He then took his sirens and whistles and started blowing with all his strength.  But the house and the one next to it were consumed by the fire.

"Immediately and very upset, the man went to his friend's town and reproached his friend 'All the sirens and whistles I bought to extinguish fires didn't work.  They are completely useless!'  His friend looked at him in surprise and answered 'My dear friend, the sirens and the whistles are just to alert and warn the people that something is on fire.  The people who hear the noise know to leave their homes and that they need to go and fill their buckets with water.'"

We need to exercise our capacity of listening - listening to our significant others, our parents, our friends, our children and ourselves - even when our ability to listen is trained by the strange and great sound of the Shofar.  The Shofar will sound to get your attention and with that it will teach us that we can improve ourselves.

May G-d make us better listeners this year and grant us a Healthy, Happy and Peaceful New Year!