Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

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Here is a parable to explain the meaning of the Shofar on the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana:

The King wanted his son to experience various cultures, so he sent him to a far-off country, supplied with a generous quantity of silver and gold.

Far away from home, the son squandered all the money. In his distress he resolved to return to his father's house and after much difficulty, he managed to arrive at the gate of the courtyard to his father's palace.

The problem was, he had forgotten the language of the palace, and he was unable to identify himself to the guards.

In despair he began to cry out in a loud voice, and the King, who recognized the voice of his son, went out to him and brought him into the house, kissing him and hugging him.

The meaning of the parable: The King is G‑d. The prince is every soul. The King sends a soul down to this world in order to fulfill our mission. But the soul becomes distant and forgets everything it was accustomed to above, and in the long exile it forgets even its own "language." So it utters a simple cry to its Father in Heaven.

This is the blowing of the shofar, a cry from deep within, expressing regret for the past and determination for the future. This cry elicits G‑d’s mercies, and He demonstrates His abiding affection for His child.
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Berel Solomon
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