Artist Statement
Close to 30 years ago while sitting in the balcony at Congregation Sherith Israel listening to the sound of the shofar, with hubris and a bit of gall, I thought I could do that (blow the shofar) and build my own. At the time I was making sheath knives and noticed that Texas Knifemakers, as well as selling scales, sold whole Kudu horns. So I bought one and made my first shofar. It never occurred to me when I started that there were hundreds of pages of biblical text and commentaries on the making and blowing of the shofar. Over the years I have made over 600 shofarot from about 20 different kosher animals. Although I make traditional shofarot from rams horns I also have made shofarot from Kudu, Waterbuck, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Buffalo, Prong Horned Antelope, Scimitar Oryx and many others. I am honored that my shofarot have been carried around the world and are enhancing the High Holiday services in innumerable congregations.
Maurice
