ב"ה

Tashlich Ceremony:

Setting Intentions + Casting Away

By: Rabbi Aderet Drucker + Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow

Origins

In his explanation of our customs and tradition, the Maharil, Rabbi Yaakov HaLevi Moellin, foremost German Talmudist of the 14th century, traces back the custom of tashlich on Rosh Hashana to very ancient times. It is performed shortly before sunset on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah (unless it falls on Shabbat, then on the second), by going to the banks of a river, lake, or any stretch of water, where certain prayers are recited followed by the symbolic shaking of the corners of our garments.

The explanation for this custom is contained in the three last verses of the prophet Micah, which we recite during tashlich:

Micah 7:18-20

(18) Who is a God like You, forgiving iniquity and removing transgression; Who has not maintained God’s wrath forever against the remnant of God’s people, because God loves graciousness! (19) God will take us back in love; God will cover up our sins, You will hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea. (20) You will keep faith with Jacob, loyalty to Abraham, as You promised on oath to our forefathers in days gone by.

מיכה ז׳:י״ח-כ׳

(יח) מִי־אֵ֣ל כָּמ֗וֹךָ נֹשֵׂ֤א עָון֙ וְעֹבֵ֣ר עַל־פֶּ֔שַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית נַחֲלָת֑וֹ לֹא־הֶחֱזִ֤יק לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ חֶ֖סֶד הֽוּא׃ (יט) יָשׁ֣וּב יְרַֽחֲמֵ֔נוּ יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ עֲונֹתֵ֑ינוּ וְתַשְׁלִ֛יךְ בִּמְצֻל֥וֹת יָ֖ם כָּל־חַטֹּאותָֽם׃ (כ) תִּתֵּ֤ן אֱמֶת֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב חֶ֖סֶד לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ מִ֥ימֵי קֶֽדֶם׃

Ritual

Take several moments in silent reflection as you cast your stones into the water. As you review the past year and set intentions for the coming year, feel free to reflect on the prompts below:

What are you holding on to that isn’t serving you?
What load do you need to stop carrying?
By unloading, how can you tip your scales in favor of kindness?
What do you want to hurl into the river?

Rosh Hashanah 17a:12, Babylonian Talmud

Beit Hillel says: God, who is “abundant in kindness,” tilts the scales in favor of kindness. The Gemara asks: How does God do this? Rabbi Eliezer says: She pushes down on the side of the merits, tipping the scale in our favor, as it is stated: “God will again have compassion upon us; God will push down our iniquities” (Micah 7:19). Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: God bears, i.e., raises, the side of the sins, as it is stated: “God bears [noseh] sin and forgives transgression” (Micah 7:18).

ראש השנה י״ז א:י״ב

בית הלל אומרים ורב חסד מטה כלפי חסד היכי עביד רבי אליעזר אומר כובשו שנאמר (מיכה ז, יט) ישוב ירחמנו יכבוש עונותינו ר' יוסי בר חנינא אמר נושא שנאמר (מיכה ז, יח) נושא עון ועובר על פשע