What is the reason behind the Misva to hear the Shofar sound on Rosh Hashanah, and what intention must one have while fulfilling this obligation?
The Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204) discusses the reason behind the Shofar in Hilchot Teshuba (3:4; listen to audio recording for precise citation). He begins by noting that the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a "Gezerat Ha’katub," meaning, a decree issued by the Torah without any obvious reason. Before suggesting a possible reason for this Misva, the Rambam emphasizes that we must ultimately approach this Misva as a "Hok," a law whose underlying rationale eludes human comprehension. Of course, there are possibilities that can be explored, but fundamentally, we observe the Misva of Shofar simply because God commanded us to. And therefore, the most important intention one must have at the time of Shofar blowing is that he intends to fulfill the divine command to hear the sound of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah.
After this introduction, the Rambam suggests that the Shofar blowing also contains a "Remez" – an allusion – to the message of "awakening" (listen to audio recording for precise citation). The Shofar symbolizes an "alarm clock," as it "awakens" us from our spiritual slumber. It calls to those of us who have fallen into the routine of pursuing material and physical indulgence, beckoning us to change our course and remember the purpose of life. This "awakening" and the need to change direction is also something we should bear in mind at the time when the Shofar is sounded.
The Gemara mentions yet another benefit of the Shofar, namely, that it reminds God, as it were, of Akedat Yishak. After the angel appeared to Abraham and told him not to slaughter his son, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in shrubbery. The Shofar we sound on Rosh Hashanah is reminiscent of that ram and thus brings to mind the great merit of the Akeda, from which we continue to benefit to this very day and which we seek to invoke as we stand in judgment on Rosh Hashanah.
Furthermore, the Gemara elsewhere notes that the extra set of Shofar blasts that we sound has the ability to confound the Satan, rattling him to the point where he is unable to prosecute and advocate against us before the Heavenly Tribunal.
These are all worthy thoughts to think in one’s mind during the sounding of the Shofar, but, as mentioned, the primary intention must be that we seek to fulfill the Biblical command of Shofar. A verse in Tehillim (81:4) says about the Misva of Shofar, "Ki Hok Le’Yisrael Hu Mishpat L’Elokeh Ya’akob" ("For it is a statute for Israel; a law for the God of Jacob"). The Misva of Shofar is a "Hok," a Misva without any obvious reason, and this is how we should observe it, even if it is also a "Mishpat L’Elokeh Ya’akob" – meaning, there have been reasons given for it, like a "Mishpat" (a Misva whose reason is clear and known).
Summary: Although several different reasons have been offered for the Misva of Shofar, we observe this Misva primarily because it was commanded by God, and this is the most important intention one should have at the time of Shofar blowing.
