When Brenlee Robinson blows on the shofar, it produces just a few seconds of sound, but that burst means everything on Yom Kippur.
The ancient instrument, typically made from a ram’s horn, marks the end of the holiest period of the year in the Jewish faith that begins with Rosh Hashanah, the new year, and ends with Yom Kippur, a day of atonement.
It’s why Robinson needed to bring its sound to everybody, even if they can’t attend synagogue Sunday and Monday. She has spent part of the lead-up to this weekend’s Yom Kippur visiting those in Toronto with illness or mobility issues who can’t be at a service to blow her shofar and ensure every Jewish person can feel connected to their faith.
“This is one thing I can do so nobody misses it,” Robinson said.
Robinson is an author who writes about Canadian history and trees, and took up the shofar about 10 years ago for her family. She says the instrument is typically used by men because it requires such physical exertion and lung strength to make its signature sound.
She emphasized that it is only played in the daytime, as the sound might get some complaints from neighbours at night.
“You can get a real head rush, and it’s onerous,” she said.
The holiday begins at sundown on Sunday and ends on Monday when three stars can be seen in the sky.
Typically a sombre occasion for reflection, repentance, and asking for forgiveness, leaders around Toronto say they’re more focused on the coming year and believe the holiday should allow all Torontonians to focus on the future.
Rabbi Shmuly Grossbaum with Chabad Lubavitch on the East Side, in midtown Toronto, says that the message of the Torah is of humanity and the whole world, not just people of the Jewish faith.
“All of Toronto can think about guilt, what I missed, what I did wrong, what I could do for my neighbour, for my family, what we can do together as a community to bring our city to great heights,” Grossbaum said.
Adam Cohen, a board member at the Kiever Shul near Kensington Market, said his Yom Kippur reflections started about a month ago.
“You know what the definition of a good Jew is? One who’s trying to be better,” Cohen said. “I think that could apply to all human beings.”
Toronto police announced earlier in September that they would up their presence around the High Holy Days after what police chief Myron Demkiw characterized as an uptick in hate-motivated attacks against Jewish businesses and places of worship in recent months.
As an Orthodox Jew, Cohen said he relies on tradition and tries to focus on continuity. He said it would be disingenuous to say that this can’t be felt around the community during this time, but added that he tries to view every year has having some distinct challenges.
“We’re praying for a more connected Toronto.”
The end of Yom Kippur will be marked with a blowing of the shofar. The exact significance of the horn is ambiguous and open to interpretation.
For Robinson, it’s a call after the days of reflection to “wake up and get it together.”
She says if you hear it, you should heed its message.
