Editing A cappella (section)

===Jewish===

While worship in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] included musical instruments,<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|29:25–29:27}}</ref> traditional Jewish religious services in the Synagogue, both before and after the last destruction of the Temple, did not include musical instruments<ref>{{harvnb|Price|2005|p=68}}</ref> given the practice of scriptural [[Hebrew cantillation|cantillation]].<ref>{{harvnb|McKinnon|1998|p=85}}</ref> The use of musical instruments is traditionally forbidden on the Sabbath out of concern that players would be tempted to repair (or tune) their instruments, which is forbidden on those days. (This prohibition has been relaxed in many Reform and some Conservative congregations.) Similarly, when Jewish families and larger groups sing traditional Sabbath songs known as [[zemirot]] outside the context of formal religious services, they usually do so a cappella, and Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations on the Sabbath sometimes feature entertainment by a cappella ensembles. During [[the Three Weeks]] musical instruments are prohibited. Many Jews consider a portion of the 49-day period of the [[Counting of the Omer|counting of the omer]] between Passover and Shavuot to be a time of semi-mourning and instrumental music is not allowed during that time.<ref>{{harvnb|Melamed|2013}}</ref> This has led to a tradition of a cappella singing sometimes known as ''sefirah'' music.<ref name="Shircago">{{harvnb|Shircago|2013}}</ref>

The popularization of the Jewish chant may be found in the writings of the Jewish philosopher [[Philo]], born 20 BC. Weaving together Jewish and Greek thought, Philo promoted praise without instruments, and taught that "silent singing" (without even vocal chords) was better still.<ref>{{harvnb|Ferguson|1972|pp=39–41}}</ref> This view parted with the Jewish scriptures, where Israel offered praise with instruments by God's own command<ref name="bibleverse|2|Chronicles|29:25"/> The [[shofar]] is the only temple instrument still being used today in the synagogue,<ref>{{harvnb|Olson|1967|p=562}}</ref> and it is only used from [[Rosh Chodesh]] [[Elul]] through the end of [[Yom Kippur]]. The shofar is used by itself, without any vocal accompaniment, and is limited to a very strictly defined set of sounds and specific places in the synagogue service.<ref>{{harvnb|Alleman|2011}}</ref> However, silver [[trumpet]]s, as described in Numbers 10:1-18,<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|10:1-10}}</ref> have been made in recent years and used in prayer services at the [[Western Wall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/silver-trumpets-pierce-the-heavens-in-prayer-rally-opposite-temple-mount/2016/03/23/ |title=Silver Trumpets Pierce the Heavens in Prayer Rally Opposite Temple Mount |date=23 March 2016|website=JewishPress.com }}</ref>