The Shofar Cry

A parable from Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov: (lit. "Master of the Good Name"); Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (1698-1760), founder of Chassidism

A King had an only son, the apple of his eye. The King wanted his son to master different fields of knowledge and 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 until he was left completely destitute. 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.

In the passage of time, he had actually forgotten the language of his native country, and he was unable to identify himself to the guards. In utter 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 the Jewish people. The King sends a soul down to this world in order to master different fields of knowledge and to experience various cultures. However, the soul becomes very distant and forgets everything to which 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 G-d demonstrates His abiding affection for His child and forgives him.

This is to say, that if we forgot to say even one word of prayer these coming holy days; if we read no Torah and heard no sermons .. and yet somehow we managed to hear the shofar, then G-d would be inclined to forgive our sins.