For years it has been known that many of the shofarot (shofars) sold in stores in Eretz Yisrael are posul, not suitable for the fulfillment of the special mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. This year, Chief Rabbinate officials repeat the warning, urging shoppers to ensure the store selling shofarot is reliable and is selling items that comply with halacha.

There are shofars for sale that were cracked or have other defects, and unscrupulous individuals are using an epoxy that is virtually undetectable to make repairs. In other cases, especially with the large Yemenite shofarot, many are not from animals kosher for a shofar. There is at least one Arab village in Shomron manufacturing shofarot.

Rabbi Ariel Levine told Israel Radio that it is truly sad, and shoppers should seek only shofarot with a kosher label.

It is sadly true in connection with other Judaica, including tzizis and tefillin as YWN reported and shoppers must seek only items with a hechsher to ensure they are indeed able to fulfill a mitzvah as they intend.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)