One of the many customs associated with the Yomim Noraim (Days of Awe), is the ritual of Tashlich (literally to cast forth), the tradition to gather at a body of water to recite a collection of biblical verses, and symbolically cast our transgressions out into the water.
Tashlich is mentioned for the first time in rabbinic sources, in Sefer Maharil, by Rabbi Jacob Moelin, a leading 14th century figure. The Maharil, introduces the notion that the custom of going to a body of water is actually reminiscent of the Binding of Isaac. The Midrash relates that one of the tests Abraham faced in his mission to reach Mount Moriah, was that a deep stream of water appeared on the road before him, and that Abraham and Isaac needed to cross the water, to cast themselves unto the water, if you will, in order to reach their destination.
The origin of the name Tashlich actually comes from one of the many biblical verses which we recite:
'Yashuv yerachameinu, yichbosh avonoteinu, vetashlich bimtzulot yam, kol chatotam.'
'Once Again show us mercy, subdue our iniquities, and cast forth all our sins into the depths of the sea...' (Micha 7:19)
Even though Tashlich could be recited throughout the entire ten-day period from Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, most communities have the practice of gathering on Rosh Hashana afternoon to recite Tashlich. Many have the practice of bringing some crumbs of bread to cast into the water, symbolizing the "casting off" of our misdeeds. Truth be told, I have always found this entire custom to be a little strange!
On Rosh Hashana afternoon, entire communities walk to a nearby body of water, mumble some words about coming closer to God, dump some stale bread crumbs into the water, watch the fish, turtles and ducks begin to swarm and gobble up those crumbs, and then begin to socialize.
Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful thing for Jews to socialize with one another on a yom tov afternoon- Hinei ma Tov uma naim, shevet achim gam yachad - how good and pleasant it is when brothers gather together as one! All in all, however, this seems like a very strange, perhaps misunderstood practice.
So what are perhaps some of the hidden messages, and different traditions associated with the Tashlich ritual?
Many Sages, including the great Gaon, Elijah of Vilna, (18th Century) were of the practice to simply recite the verses near a body of water, and not throw any bread crumbs into the water. Indeed, the Aruch Hashulchan (Rabbi Yechiel Epstein, late 19th Century), actually felt this practice should be prohibited, both in that it is inappropriate to discard bread or any food, even it has symbolism attached to it; as well as that casting bread into the water to be eaten by wildlife, might be prohibited as an extension of the law against baiting and trapping animals on the Sabbath or Festivals.
In recent years, I have taken upon myself to recite the Tashlich verses not on Rosh Hashana afternoon, but rather to visit the reservoir in Central Park at some point during the week of aseret yimei teshuva. Rather than discarding bread into the water, which still might be a problem of inappropriate treatment of food, even if the issue of baiting and trapping would no longer be problematic; I have taken upon the custom of symbolically transforming my misdeeds into an act of kindness. I usually bring some bread with me, and then upon completion of reciting the verses, hand that bread to a homeless individual who might be in need of something to eat.
So, if one does not actually symbolically cast their misdeeds into the water, why then are these verses recited by a body of water; what symbolism is inherent in this strange tradition?
There is a beautiful teaching from the great Chasidic master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, as cited so sweetly in the work L'maan Acha V'rea (for the sake of my brothers and friends), a collection of stories and teachings from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, zt'l.
There (page 67) Rav Shlomo taught:
"Rabbi Nachman and all of our holy masters taught us, that water existed since before the creation of the world. We all are aware that the world was created with the utterance of the letter bet, and bet has the numerical value of two! In the world, everything seems to come in pairs of two. Summer and winter, day and night, me and you, us and Hashem, everything except for water! Water is always one. There is no word in Hebrew for just one drop of water; water in Hebrew is always in the language of plural- mayim. Certainly if one contemplates that if we placed one drop of water right next to a second drop of water, that drop of water would become absorbed, and fully merge with the second drop of water! We can learn and appreciate the great oneness of Hashem as demonstrated by the unique quality of water!
On Rosh Hashana afternoon we go down to the banks of a body of water, in order to connect ourselves to the water, to connect ourselves to the great oneness of God, which is so evident in the perplexing properties of the water"
Perhaps, then we can better understand why the tradition of Tashlich, can be recited throughout this entire period of the aseret yimei teshuva. Throughout this entire period, our thoughts, prayers, and actions are directed toward cultivating a deeper awareness, a higher sense of God's presence manifested in our lives each and every day. The experience of Tashlich, as Rebbe Nachman points out, of learning the lessons of the mysterious nature of water, helps us to rediscover that awareness of divinity which is innate within each of our hearts and souls.
With blessings for a happy, healthy and sweet New Year,
Rabbi Sam Shor
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