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Tashlich Stones

Tashlich is the most embodied High Holiday ritual we do at TAA.  It is a late ritual for Judaism, first recorded in the 1400s. It is flexible in that it can be done anytime from the first day of Rosh haShanah (as long as it is not Shabbat) until the last day of Sukkot either alone, with family or in community.  At TAA, as in most communities, we meet on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh haShanah at a body of "living water" that has fish in it.  Some biblical passages that are read, but the essence of the ritual is symbolically casting away of our sins into the water by shaking out our pockets or throwing breadcrumbs. 

Tashlich then should be part of the process of self reflection and relationship repair that is the focus of this month of preparation for the Days of Awe. The ritual, which probably originated as a folk tradition, was not received enthusiastically by rabbinic authorities who understood the tendency for people to engage in the ritual disconnected from any self-reflection, self-improvement or teshuvah. In other words, to see Tashlich as a magical exorcism of our sins by throwing things in water. 

This year, Rabbi Lewis invites you to share in a Tashlich ritual with specific intention about how we would like to do better and what we would like to leave behind as we enter the new year.  This might be a very specific behavior that caused us to act in a way we regret (i.e., becoming frustrated and responding inappropriately with a particular person and/or a particular situation) or a general commitment to improve ourselves and our relationships (i.e., by being less reactive and impatient in general). 

Instead of bread or pocket lint, we will be using stones collected from the beach that will be returned to the ocean as a physical symbol of our commitments to leave behind unhealthy, stifling and destructive behaviors. Sessions to help set our intentions and begin the process will be held on:

Thursday, September 19th from 12:15 - 1:00 pm and Sunday, September 22nd from 10:00 - 10:45 am.

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HIGH HOLIDAYS 5780

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Operation Isaiah

What sort of fast does G-d require of us on Yom Kippur?  The Prophet Isaiah’s answer is startling and clear:

Is such the fast I desire,

A day for men to starve their bodies?

Is it bowing the head like a bulrush

And lying in sackcloth and ashes?

Do you call that a fast…?

No, this is the fast I desire:

To unlock the fetters of wickedness,

And untie the cords of the yoke

To let the oppressed go free;

To break off every yoke.

 It is to share your bread with the hungry….

To honor Isaiah’s words, it has long been the custom of our congregation, as we enter the temple for Kol Nidre, to bring nourishing, non-perishable food that we donate to the Cape Ann Food Pantry.  We suggest that you donate one pound for every person in your family. 

BREAK-THE-FAST 5780

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9th at 7 PM

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Rabbi Myron and Eileen Geller Endowment Campaign Updates

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