The shofar, crafted from a ram’s horn, is a significant instrument in Jewish tradition. It is hollowed out to be blown like a trumpet, symbolizing God’s majesty and serving as a call to repentance. During Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, the shofar serves as a spiritual alarm for personal reflection and growth. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, it is blown at the end of the service to signal the conclusion of the fast, hoping for God’s acceptance and wishing for another year of health and prosperity. The shofar embodies healing, completeness, and spiritual redemption.
In Dr. Marc Siegel’s book, ‘THE ANGELS AMONG US,’ the shofar plays a role in the miraculous recovery of Nikki Goldstein, a renowned journalist from Sydney, Australia. Nikki, at 57, suffered from chronic lung and autoimmune diseases with frequent hospitalizations. By early September 2022, her condition appeared terminal. A CT scan revealed severe lung issues, and she was placed on a ventilator, with little hope for survival. Resigned to her fate, Nikki was put on the emergency lung transplant list and induced into a coma.
Her family stood by during these crucial moments. Her husband, Rowan, and her daughter encountered Rabbi Eli Schlanger from the Chabad synagogue in Bondi Beach. At their request, Rabbi Schlanger prayed for Nikki’s recovery. Before leaving, he asked permission to blow the shofar over her, which Rowan wholeheartedly supported.
Remarkably, within 24 hours, Nikki’s lungs began to respond positively, and her condition improved rapidly. She awoke from the coma, defying medical expectations. Nikki’s extraordinary recovery led her to co-author a book with Rabbi Schlanger titled ‘Conversations With My Rabbi.’
On December 14, 2025, a tragic event unfolded during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, where over 1,000 people gathered. An antisemitic attack took place when gunmen opened fire. Rabbi Schlanger, father of five children, confronted the attackers in a plea for peace. He was tragically killed, yet his wife and two-month-old baby, although injured, survived.
The shofar’s influence is further explored when Dr. Siegel recounts a personal incident involving a medical student meeting a rabbi who suffered a minor stroke while blowing the shofar. This crisis allowed doctors to diagnose life-threatening conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, potentially saving his life. This incident highlights how the act of blowing the shofar indirectly led to a life-saving intervention.
The shofar has historical significance dating back to the Old Testament when it was first sounded at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:16). Today, it continues to inspire, awaken spirituality, and provide miraculous healing.
Editor’s note: Dr. Marc Siegel’s book, ‘THE ANGELS AMONG US,’ will be available on Nov. 18, 2026, for preorder through Fox Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.