Temple Trumpets

In this week's Parsha, we have the commandment to build two חצוצרות, or trumpets. These trumpets had many functions. Most see them as instruments to call the desert camp to order. The people learned that based on the blows of the trumpet, they would know that it was time to get organized for travel. Each of the tribes knew how to follow these trumpet sounds and they would take their place in line.

Many are not aware that these חצוצרות were used daily in the Beit Hamikdash. They were blown in the morning and evening at the time of the offering of the תמיד sacrifice. They were also blown during the Chagim and even blown together with the Shofar on Rosh Hashana.

The של״ה הקודש says that the חצוצרות were meant to combat the forces of the Kelipot, another name for evil. It was also a device to fight the יצר הרע and negative influences rampant in the world. Just as we say that the Shofar was blown to confuse the Satan, the חצוצרות were a daily call to order. When the trumpets were heard, they served as a reminder to behave and return to sanctity and holiness and distance ourselves from the impurities of the world. Shabbat Shalom