Mazel tov, you made it through another Yom Kippur!

Um, wait, whoops.

This video of two dudes blowing the shofar is not actually signaling the end of a Jewish synagogue service. It’s actually two far right-wing militia men in Burns, Oregon blowing into a quote-unquote “battle horn” during their occupation of a federal wildlife refuge.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

In an attempt to get more protestors to join them, militia leader Blaine Cooper posted this video to Facebook, with the caption:

“CHRISTIANS THE BATTLE TRUMPET HAS BEEN SOUNDED TIME TO RISE! CALL TO ACTION SEND IN THE TROOPS TO STAND WITH US IN BURNS OREGON!”

In case you’re wondering why these Christians are using the very Jewish shofar, the militiamen are part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which teaches adherents that they’re descendants of the House of Israel.

Too bad it doesn’t teach them all to blow the shofar like a pro.

The guy on the right has sub-standard Tekia skills. But, once the Burns occupation ends, the guy on the left should consider a career change and look into becoming a professional shofar-blower. I hear the going rates are pretty good on High Holidays.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount