Shofars and how to choose one

This page is meant as a plain guide for buyers who are choosing a shofar for the first time or for a synagogue replacing an old one. If you already know what you want, write to us and we'll send a current shortlist that matches.

Ram's horn, polished

The most common shofar in many congregations. Curved or twisted, with a clear and bright voice. The polished finish takes the natural ram's horn and hand-buffs it to a higher shine, which many synagogues prefer for the visual prominence on the bimah. Sizes available from 10 to 16 inches measured along the curve.

Typical use: synagogue services, home Rosh Hashanah practice, gifts for a bar or bat mitzvah.

Ram's horn, natural

The same horn family as above but in its unpolished finish — cleaned and oiled, with the natural surface preserved. Slightly lower contrast in colour and matt rather than glossy. Many private buyers and traditional Sephardic households prefer this finish for reasons of custom and personal taste. Same size range as polished.

Yemenite kudu

The long curved horn of the kudu antelope, used by Yemenite, North African, and many Mizrahi communities. The sound is deep and long. The shape is dramatic. Sizes are measured along the curve, typically from 28 inches at the shorter end up to 48 or 50 inches for the longer ones. The longer the horn, the deeper the voice.

A Yemenite shofar is heavier than a ram's horn and is usually held with two hands. For a young first-time sounder, a ram's horn is usually the easier instrument to learn on.

What "sound-tested" means

Every shofar we list is sounded before it leaves the workshop. We test for tekiah (single long note), shevarim (three medium notes), and teruah (nine short notes). If a horn cannot produce all three cleanly, it isn't listed for sale. We also note any quirks in the sound (a brighter or darker voice, a slight catch on the high notes) on the listing so buyers know what to expect.

Sizing a synagogue order

For a synagogue purchase we usually recommend looking at two or three horns at once. A practical setup is often: one main shofar for the service (around 12 to 14 inches ram's horn, or a mid-length Yemenite if the congregation's tradition calls for it), one backup of similar size, and one smaller horn for any classroom or shiva-house use during the year. Synagogue orders ship together, packed for safe travel.

Bags, cases, and care

Velvet shofar bags in burgundy, navy, and royal blue, embroidered with the word "Shofar" in Hebrew lettering. Larger zippered cases for Yemenite shofars where a velvet bag would not be sturdy enough. Polishing cloths for the polished finish, a small bottle of food-grade mineral oil for the natural finish. None of these are required for the kosher fitness of the shofar — they are practical accessories for storage between holidays.

How to order

Email [email protected] with what you're looking for. A useful first message: who the shofar is for (synagogue, family, individual), preferred size or sound, ram's horn or Yemenite, and the date you need the shofar in hand. We respond within a working day with a shortlist of two or three matching horns from current stock, and ship within a few days of an order.