From the mailbag...

E. comments on the previous post:

If the new people aren't mechadeish anything, then why does MBD need to have Aaron Razel involved in the production of his "new" album?

BTW, It is ironic that a site like Matzav which infringes on people's copyrights daily is preaching about copyrights...

Indeed!

J. Gondek writes:

Dear Hasidic Musician,

In your blog I read the following:

"Given the interest in exotic instruments, I suppose this was inevitable. Note: According to Jewish tradition, a synthetic shofar is not acceptable for religious use."

I'm not arguing the validity or accuracy of your statement but am curious if you can point me to a Talmud citation that discusses prohibition of synthetic shofar in religious ceremonies.

The Mishna in Rosh Hashana specifies the criterion for a shofar. One of them is that it needs to be natural, and from a ram or goat, but not from a cow. The Talmud in Rosh Hashana (27a) addresses the case of a gold-plated shofar and concludes that if the part where the mouth rests is also covered, so that the mouth doesn’t touch the horn itself, then one has not fulfilled the mitzvah.

It’s clear from these texts that the shofar has to be a natural horn and that a synthetic reproduction would not be acceptable.