Discovering the hidden power of the Shofar

וַיְהִי בַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיֹת הַבֹּקֶר, וַיְהִי קֹלֹת וּבְרָקִים וְעָנָן כָּבֵד עַל-הָהָר, וְקֹל שֹׁפָר, חָזָק מְאֹד; וַיֶּחֱרַד כָּל-הָעָם, אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּחֲנֶה.

Shemot, Chapter 19, verse 16

"And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of a horn exceedingly loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled." Exodus 19:16

The translation of this verse of Shemot, Exodus,  doesn't really explain what the Hebrew version actually says. Instead of the horn, the original version says: " kol shofar", the voice of a Shofar.

When the Torah was given on Mount Sinai, when the Israelites saw and heard the Glory of the Almighty, one of the manifestations occured through the very loud voice of a shofar.

The shofar is a prophetic instrument. I wasn't really aware of that fact until I started playing it-I mean- until real sounds came out of my shofar.

I decided to buy a shofar, last September, on the day of my immersion into the Yarden at Kibbutz Kinneret. I enquired about the right shofar for me, asking a Messianic brother called Shimon. I also specified that I was unable to carry the biggest models, as I had come to Eretz Israel with very little luggage. Shimon showed me the 'easiest' shofar to blow and made a demonstration before me.
I was very eager to try this out at my hotel in Tiberias, but all my attempts were vain: no sound was coming out of my shofar.

Well, just blowing into it will not render any sound! You will have to apply the appropriate technique...and practice a lot.

I was lucky to hear a rabbi blow the shofar in Tsfat before Rosh haShana.

So back home in Paris, quite desperate to get a sound out of my beautiful kosher shofar, I started watching You Tube tutorials on how to blow a shofar. I eventually found an online teacher who had quite efficient techniques: as I started applying them, some shy sounds started to come out of my shofar...at first, they were quite distorted and very short, but this encouraged me a lot.

I then decided to watch confirmed shofar players in action, and here is what happened...I have no explanation for this phenomenon, yet it happens EVERY TIME I am making my shofar sound.

While listening to experienced shofar player, I also blew into my own shofar...and after a few minutes, my sounds were echoing the sound of the professional players. I was in awe in front of the beautiful sounds emanating from my own shofar.
I felt that my confidence was increasing and that the Spirit of the Almighty was very strong inside of me! Actually, playing the shofar is a form of prayer that uses our breath. It is a spiritual exercise of calling, asking and hearing. It links us directly with HaShem.

Well, there is a higher mystery in this instrument than what I can actually comprehend. All I know is that it brings me very close to the Lord and that it increases my confidence while filling me with the Spirit.

I have been told at Yardenit that all the shofars they were selling were kosher, and taken from living animals...which means that no animal has been killed to make the precious instruments.


Most shofars are made of ram horns, the first reason being that the animal is kosher. Secondly it reminds us of Akedat Yitzhak, the binding of Abraham's son. The ram appeared and was sacrificed instead of Yitzhak.

Believers in Yeshua should also know that on His Second Coming our Messiah will appear, blowing the Shofar. Each time, you are playing the instrument with faith, you are also calling upon the Coming of our Messiah.

I could speak about it for hours, but you will have to experience the wonders of the shofar by yourself!


© by Isabelle Esling 2017

What our generation needs to learn from Parashat Noach

The Book of Genesis, Bereshit, Chapter 6, teaches us that mankind had reached a great degree of violence and corruption. It was that great that HaShem intended to destroy His Creation.
However, one man named Noach, who was a tsaddik, found grace in the Almighty's eyes.
Noach walked with HaShem, so Noach and his family were spared from the flood.

Any individual can make a difference


 וְנֹחַ, מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה

But Noach found grace in the eyes of HaShem ( Bereshit, 6:8). The Torah uses this hebrew expression "matza chen beinai HaShem'. The Almighty favors Noach because of his righteousness.
Your attitude, your kindness, your willingness to accomplish HaShem's will are going to make a whole difference in the middle of a corrupt generation.


Rabbi Yeshua tells us that we are the salt of the earth. 
The salt gives savor to our dishes. The salt also prevents from decay.

We must watch our thoughts and actions daily. We must show the example to a corrupt society. We have to do our best to follow Yeshua's blameless example in his conduct.

No matter how much you are surrounded by evil and corruption, you always DO have a choice in your way of acting. It is your responsability to refuse to condone evil practices.

You are totally FREE either to serve HaShem or to follow the customs of the world.
The contemporary world has become far more dangerous than in the days of Noach. A lot of evil is nowadays presented as harmless, especially to the younger generation, that often lack discernment.


A punishment according to the nature of the sin

Usually water and rain are a symbol of blessing from Heavens. The hebrew word rain, geshem, contains the word HaShem partly. If you read Israel's history, you will see how many times Israel was blessed through rain, especially in times of draught.
Water, mayim, is a symbol of life. Whoever possessed a well in ancient times was considered to be a rich man.

So why does HaShem decide to punish the generation of Noach with water?

Rabbi Alon Anava from Tsfat gives us some detailed elements of response in his video about parashat Noach.

Never again. But watch yourselves!

"This is like the days of Noach to me: as I swore that the waters of Noach should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you , and will not rebuke you." Isaiah 54:9

HaShem, in  His immense goodness, promised never to destroy mankind again through floods.
However, mankind keeps testing HaShem more than ever before. Sin is increasing nowadays and is even glorified by some people.
I am telling each and everybody to be very watchful of our times.

Nobody believed Noach when he was speaking of the upcoming flood and building his ark.
In the same way, you will find many mockers when you will warn people about Yeshua's second coming.
Be careful, not to be taken by surprise on the very day of His return.
Do not speculate about the day or the hour, rather work in constant Teshuva on correcting your ways.

Yeshua will be returning at a time very few will believe in His return.

Do not be fooled. This world with its evil customs is meant to pass. Make Yeshua your main priority.

© 2017 by Isabelle Esling