A video was added to YouTube on September 2, 2010, about a new short film series entitled “Eyewitness 1948.” The first episode was accompanied by the following explanation:
Under a British law in Palestine passed in 1930, Jews were forbidden to blow the shofar at the Kotel, pray loudly there, or bring Torah scrolls, so as not to offend the Arab population.
Despite this restriction, for the next seventeen years, the shofar was sounded at the Kotel every Yom Kippur. Shofars were smuggled in to the Kotel where brave teenagers defiantly blew them at the conclusion of the fast. Some managed to get away - others were captured and sent to jail for up to six months.
Six of these men are still alive.
Two weeks ago, these six men returned to the scene of their "crime". Armed with shofars, they recounted their individual stories and blew shofar again at the Kotel.
This is their powerful and inspiring story.
From 1930 to 1947 it was illegal; from 1948 until 1967 it was impossible, since the Arabs precluded Jews from entering the Old City. Since 1967, all religions have had access to their holy sites in Jerusalem -- thanks to Israel. Hat tip: Rabbi Daniel Greyber
For more information about Shofar and other Holy Temple instruments, we have written extensively on the Shofar and have three websites
hearingshofar (dot) com
shofar-sounders(dot) com
Posted by: art finkle | September 17, 2010 at 01:23 PM