As Rosh Hashanah approaches, here are six surprising facts about shofars: they can be quite expensive, some are intricately designed, they can be made out of chocolate, not all are made from ram horns, you can play more than one at a time, they are popular among Christian evangelicals, and they are considered a musical instrument, even appreciated by celebrities like Madonna who incorporated a shofar in her song.

Five Rosh Hashanah-themed music videos are highlighted to enhance the High Holiday spirit.

An engaging video by IKAR, a Los Angeles synagogue, showcases Michael Brous moving through various LA locations blowing a shofar to stir excitement for the High Holidays, even reaching non-Jewish individuals.

A woman reflects on her journey to becoming a cantor while grappling with her family's religious traditions and gender expectations.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, falls on the first day of the seventh month Tishrei but is significant as a day for reflection, repentance, and judgment by God.

Tel Aviv's Religious Council is cautioning against buying shofars made in China or Morocco due to concerns about the use of pig fat in Chinese shofars and polyester glue in Moroccan ones, which could make them halachically unacceptable.

Jewish leaders in Israel, including rabbis and kabbalists, took to the skies on a plane to bless the land and prevent further deaths from the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.