Thousands attended the Yom Kippur Ne’ilah service and shofar blowing at Hostages’ Square. As the fast ended, they sang Hatikvah following the shofar’s call. Credit: Paulina Patimer | Bring Them Home Now

A shofar is a type of horn. It's made by hollowing out, polishing, and shaping the horn of a ram. The shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish year. It's a type of alarm, and it's supposed to remind you that a new year is beginning, and to get focused on your mission and purpose in life. At the very end of Yom Kippur, after a full day of fasting and prayer, a shofar also is blown, which signifies the end of the day. On a simple level, the shofar blast is a kind of celebratio