Religion and Theology

Jewish rituals and ceremonies are highlights which help to illuminate and add substance to the Jewish individuals life. They highlight ones life, and if he is Jewish a certain meaning and purpose. Some of these rituals celebrate events in Jewish history.  Others celebrate times that the Torah set aside such as the Shabbat (Sabbath). On the other hand, others date to the time of Babylonian exile such as the public reading of the Torah on Monday and Thursday introduced by Ezra the scribe (Scharfstein, 1999). The religious calendar is filled with rituals that represent the wealth in Jewish experience through the ages.  They reflect Jewish diversity and religious development for instance the Tashlich.

Tashlich was developed in the Middle Ages in Germany (Bloch, 1980).  Its earliest printed source is Rabbi Moellin Jacob Ben Moses in his work, Sefer Maharil in the 15th Century (Bloch, 1980). Moses linked Tashlich with the Jewish allegorical account of Abraham going to sacrifice his son Isaac. In the story, Satan, in order to prevent this, converts himself into a river thus blocking the road to Mount Moriah. Satan causes a flood which threatens to drown Abraham and Isaac at which point Abraham calls upon God to save them as they are about to die. Thus, says the Maharil, no obstacle should keep us back from fulfilling any command of God (Dinka, undated). Whoever is able to have Abrahams selflessness and Godly love is able to have his sins cast away into the sea (Bloch, 1980).

Tashlich is conducted in the Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year. It is believed that if one wants to make his new year better than the last year, he must change some of the things that characterized him. The reference for this practice is found in the book of Micah 719. The verse alludes to the Lord of compassion who treads upon the sins of the repentant. The sins are tossed into the depths of the sea.

After the afternoon service of the Rosh Hashanah the congregation walks to a river or spring, preferably one with fish in it and engages in a recital of penitential prayers (Kerry et al, 2004).  Tashlich means casting off and so once the prayers have been said, the people empty their pockets and throw bread crumbs into the moving water (Kerry et al, 2004).  Tossing bread crumbs is a symbol of casting away ones sins and starting a new year without iniquity. If the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, then Tashlich is performed on the second day. Some of the key words that are used during the ceremony are Avon, denoting an intentional sin, Chet, an unintentional sin and pasha, a sin intended to harm and thus the worst sin (Kerry et al, 2004). A persons sin is represented by the bread which floats away.

In present day practice, Tashlich is used by Jews who on finding their character abhorrent seek God to take away their sin. It is understood that a life without ones creator encompasses living selfishly and being at odds with fellow human beings. The process involves taking stock of ones soul, including the resentments and grudges borne. Jews recite the blessings found in Micah 718 as a source of encouragement and hope. Previously Tashlich used to be a solemn occasion where Jews would contemplate. Recently however it has become a social occasion with many people meeting at the same body of water to toss bread. In New York for instance it is common to find people throwing bread crumbs off the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges and catching up. The ritual now draws throngs of people eager to celebrate community, revel in the great outdoors and cut loose (Heller, 2008). Many Jews also find it enjoyable to toss challah (special braided bread) to the ducks wading across the water.
In conclusion, Tashlich is a ceremony that is intended to create harmony between the Jew, his God and his fellow man. Heshe is able to reconcile himself to a merciful God who loves him.