| A Shofar cannot be made from just any type of | | | | measurements so as to determine how far the |
| horn. The horn that you intend to use must be | | | | hollow of the Shofar extends. This is done by means |
| obtained from an animal that is kosher. This basically | | | | of a soft wire. Measurements are taken from the |
| implies that a Shofar is made from the horn of an | | | | open end of the Shofar. Next, line the soft wire on |
| animal that chews cud and has split hooves. There is | | | | the exterior of the Shofar and mark off this |
| quite a wide variety of such animals and these include | | | | measurement (from the opening side). Add |
| Rocky Mountain goat, gazelle, antelope, goat, and | | | | 1”-1.5” toward the tip of the Shofar |
| antelope. To make the Yemenite Shofar you must | | | | depending on how curved the Shofar is. This is the |
| use a horn obtained from the kudu antelope. The | | | | point at which you should use a coping saw to cut |
| word ‘Shofar’ translates into | | | | off the tip of the Shofar. Ensure that the cut is |
| ‘hollow’. The aforementioned animals have | | | | perpendicular to the Shofar’s length. This cut |
| hollow horns rather than solid bone and the content is | | | | should provide you with a flat surface. At this point |
| only cartilage which has to be extracted for the | | | | you will require a 3/16”, 6” long bit so as to |
| Shofar to be made. While ram’s horns can be | | | | drill a hole in the Shofar. The bit should be placed at |
| obtained from a local slaughter house, the horn of | | | | the very centre of the flat surface. Carefully drill into |
| the kudu antelope used in making the Yemenite | | | | the Shofar until you bore into the hollow. Extreme |
| Shofar can only be found in East or Southern Africa. | | | | care should be observed in doing this since if too |
| The first step in making a Shofar is to place the horn | | | | much a sharp angle is used there is a possibility that |
| in water and to set this to the boil. To hasten the | | | | the drill may bore into the side of the Shofar and this |
| removal of the cartilage one can use adequate | | | | will mean that the horn becomes non-kosher and |
| amounts of washing soda or borax. The boiling has to | | | | therefore unsuitable for use in worship. |
| be done for a minimum of two hours though this can | | | | Having done this successfully, the next step will be to |
| be extended to as much as five hours. As the | | | | form a mouthpiece for the Shofar. This is done by |
| cartilage loosens it can be removed from the Shofar | | | | enlarging the drilled hole. This task is efficiently done |
| using a pick. A Yemenite Shofar is much longer than | | | | with the assistance of an electric model tool. With |
| other types of Shofar and as such the use of | | | | this tool you will be able to make a mouthpiece in the |
| washing soda will be much more effective. In Biblical | | | | shape of a bell and you will also be able to smoothen |
| Talmudic times it is safe to state that there were no | | | | off its edges. At this point it is prudent that a |
| such chemicals. The Shofar was left on the ground | | | | seasoned Shofar-blower be requested to test the |
| and cartilage removal was left to worms and other | | | | sound quality of the new Shofar and then |
| microorganisms. | | | | modifications can be implemented as required. These |
| The cartilage-free Shofar must be thoroughly dry | | | | are the same steps that are followed in the making |
| prior to the next step. You will be required to take | | | | of a Yemenite Shofar. |