How to Make a Shofar

The shofar is a religious instrument, carved out of a simple ram's horn, used especially for the Jewish observations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Mentioned frequently in the Talmud and the Bible, the awesome sound of the shofar hopes to inspire believers to contemplate their behavior and their God.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ram's horn (or horn of another kosher animal)
• Boiling water
• Soft wire
• Hacksaw
• Drill
• Knife, dremel

1. Boil the horn in water for two to five hours, with a bit of detergent included to help clean it. Pull out the cartilage with an ice pick or other long, sharp implement. Afterward, dry the horn completely.

2. Thread a soft wire through the length of the hollow to measure its length. Line the wire against the outside of the horn and mark about 1" past the end of the hollow.

3. Cut off at the mark, perpendicular to the body of the horn, with a coping saw or hacksaw.

4. Drill a 1/8” hole into the freshly sawed end until you reach the hollow.

5. Enlarge the narrow hole, either with a traditional knife or a dremel, into a bell-shaped mouthpiece like you might find on a trumpet. Try to fit the mouthpiece to the user's own mouth. Afterward, smooth the inner and outer surface, but don't shine it -- keep it rough and uneven.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your local Chabad in August or September: many of them run workshops each year.
• Do not drill any holes into the side of your horn. You may not paint or otherwise add anything to your shofar. You may, however, carve designs into its outer edge and body.