The text and images on this page are from CD-JeMM, the Jewish mulitmedia magazine.

Would you use any horn for a shofar? Check out these animals.

| Antelope | Although not a preferred species designated by the sages, this horn nevertheless became a favorite of the Jewish community in Yemen, and is still popular today. There are several types of antelopes whose horns vary in shape. We are most familiar with the long and twisted antelope horn which produces powerful and tuneful sounds.
Cow The cow's horn was forbidden to be used primarily because of its association with the Sin of the Golden Calf: "Can a prosecutor' become a defender?" argued the rabbis. The horn of the cow and ox were also disqualified since they were called "keren" in Hebrew, as opposed to the word shofar which was applied more commonly to the sheep, goat, mountain goat, antelope and gazelle (Mishna Rosh Hashanah)
| Goat | The wild goat's horn was acceptable to the rabbis of the Talmud. The animal is kosher and its horn hollow and rounded.
| Ibex | The horn of the ibex could be used if others were not available. The ibex (according to some, the wild goat) and the gazelle are the only two species remaining in Israel today from over ten cloven-hoofed (and hence kosher) species which once roamed the country.
| Oryx | The oryx is a kosher animal (see Leviticus, 13:4) whose straight and sharp horns can grow to four feet. But the horn is not used as a shofar since the Talmud indicated that the shofar was to be curved. According to Rabbi Judah, cited in the Talmud (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 26b), the rounded horn is a sign of submission (to the Almighty).
Ram This is the ram's horn, popular among Ashkenazim. (The ram's horn depicted here is over 400 years old.) Although mostly straight, the ram's favored status and the horn's slight curvature, permit its use.