The Shofar and the Akeida

     The Gemara says the sounding of the Shofar — the ram’s horn — is a reminder of Akeidas Yitzchak, and is accounted as if we bound ourselves to the altar (Rosh Hashanah 16a).  Rashi on the Torah writes that the verses of Zichronos and Shofros arouse the memory of the Akeidas Yitzchak, where a ram was offered in his place (Vayikra 23:24).

     Rav Yitzchak Sender asks, “Why is the ram’s horn so significant?  The offering of the ram only seems like an afterthought in the story of the Akeida — Avraham had already passed the test.”

     Rav Sender explains that Avraham felt the need to serve Hashem in some way, even though he had already passed the test of the Akeida.  So too, we want to truly serve Hashem and not merely exempt ourselves.

     Still, if we look closely at the verses, we can find amazing points regarding the ram.

     The test of the Akeida was to see if Avraham could give up all his desires and aspirations if Hashem wanted.  All his hopes for the future were dependent on this child; yet Hashem seemingly wanted Avraham to give up the child, and Klal Yisrael.

     Earlier, Yitzchak had asked where the lamb offering was.  Avraham had answered, “Hashem will show us the lamb, my son.”  This turned out to be prophetic — Hashem did show them the ram, amazingly caught by its own horns!

The Sacrifice — Thought and Deed

     The Akeida represents the sacrifice — the temura — the substitute.  As the verse says, “He took the ram and brought it as an offering in place of his son.”  (Bereishis 22:13)

    We find this idea in the Maharal in his Peirush to Aggados.  The Akeida was in thought and deed.  The thought was that he was ready to do Hashem’s bidding — the deed was that he offered a ram instead of his son.

    Rebbe Akiva states that the offerings of the Yomim Tovim correspond to the needs of the time.  The water on the altar at Sukkos is so that we’ll have rain, the Omer sheaf of barley at Pesach is so that we’ll have produce, and the two loaves at Shavuot is so that we’ll have fruit.  On Rosh Hashanah, however, we give ourselves — all our hopes and aspirations are nullified to the will of Hashem.  (Rosh Hashanah 16a according to a drosh from Rav Moshe Wolfson).

    It was essential that Avraham give something… The ram that he offered in place of his son represented all his hopes and aspirations.  It was as if he had bound himself to the altar.