Ram's Horn Shofar, Small 9 to 11 Inches (Design #1)

Nine to eleven inches — the small size, made in Israel from a ram's horn and certified under the Rabbanut. At this length the horn sits easily in one hand, and the mouthpiece takes less air than a longer one does, which is why a man learning to blow generally starts here rather than on a sixteen-inch.

A shorter shofar gives a higher, tighter sound. That is not a drawback in most of the places it gets used: blowing at home through Elul, a bar mitzvah bochur working out the order of tekiah, shevarim and teruah, or someone blowing for a cholim in a house rather than a full beis medrash. A smaller horn is easier to control and easier to get a clean note out of.

Keep it in a bag rather than loose in a drawer. Horn scratches and takes on odours from whatever it sits next to, and the small shofar bag at 13 by 10 inches takes this length without any forcing.

• Malchut design #1
• Size Shofar made in Israel from a Ram's Horn measures 9"-11" in size

Sold by Judaica Square, Lakewood NJ. Free shipping on orders over $75. Returns within 15 days.