The Shofar's Role in Miracles and Medicine, According to Dr. Marc Siegel

Dr. Marc Siegel, a contributor for Fox News, has detailed the profound symbolism and perceived miraculous properties of the shofar in his new book, "THE ANGELS AMONG US." The shofar, a horn blown like a trumpet, holds deep spiritual significance in Judaism, symbolizing God's majesty, calling for repentance, and representing healing, wholeness, and spiritual redemption. It is traditionally blown during the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Siegel recounts a remarkable story featured in his book about journalist Nikki Goldstein, who suffered from chronic lung disease and an autoimmune condition. In September 2022, Goldstein's health deteriorated significantly, leading to her placement on a ventilator and into a coma. Facing a critical condition with extensive lung scarring and infection, her medical team considered a lung transplant, but her prognosis remained grim.

During this critical period, a rabbi, identified as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, visited Goldstein. At the request of Goldstein's family, the rabbi prayed for her and then, with permission, blew the shofar over her. Within 24 hours, Goldstein's lungs began to show signs of recovery, with her chest X-ray improving. She was brought out of the coma, and the condition in her lungs rapidly receded, an event Siegel describes as a medical miracle.

Siegel also shares an anecdote about a rabbi who experienced a minor stroke while blowing the shofar. The incident, which caused numbness in his lips, led to the discovery of underlying health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The rabbi told Siegel's daughter, a medical student, that the shofar's effect, while causing the stroke, ultimately facilitated life-saving diagnoses.

The shofar's historical and spiritual significance is noted, with its first mention in the Old Testament at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Ten Commandments. Siegel emphasizes its continued role in inspiring faith and facilitating healing.

Tragically, Rabbi Eli Schlanger was later killed during an antisemitic terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, in December 2025. He had walked toward two gunmen, urging them to stop, and was fatally shot. His wife and infant child were injured but survived.

Siegel's book, "THE ANGELS AMONG US," explores these themes and is scheduled for publication on November 18, 2026, available for preorder through Fox Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.