Tashlich: a short explanation

What is Tashlich? One of Rabbi Wein zt'l's favorite reminiscences from the days of his childhood in Chicago was that of a vast crowd of maybe 40,000 Jews turning out en masse to symbolically cast away their sins.  Here’s a helpful note prepared by the OU back in 2006, explaining the background and reminding us that we don't do Tashlich on Shabbat. The original version of this note can be found here.

 The word “Tashlich” means “You will cast away.” In this context, it refers to a custom dating from at least as early as the fourteenth century, but probably much earlier, based on the last verses of the Book of Michah (Micah) 7:18-20, shown below:

“Who is a God like You? You forgive sins and overlook transgressions for the survivors of Your People;

He does not retain His anger forever, for He loves Kindness;

He will return and show us mercy, and overcome our sins,

[Note: The Prophet has switched, grammatically, from addressing God in the “second person” [using “You”] to addressing Him in the “third person” [using “He”]. This may have to do with the difficulty finite man has when addressing his infinite Creator, and comes up again in connection with the topic of Blessings. Anyway, back to Michah:]

And You will cast into the depths of the sea all their sins;

You will show kindness to Yaakov and mercy to Avraham,

As You did promise to our fathers of old.”

Consequently, Jewish communities have for many generations gathered on the First Day of Rosh Hashanah at bodies of water and recited the Tashlich prayer, which consists of certain chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) and the verses shown above, to symbolize our wish to get rid of our sins, and to be forgiven by God.

Some people have the custom to throw crumbs, but some authorities say that one shouldn’t; each person should act according to his/her minhag.

Historically, Jews would sometimes be instructed by their own community leaders to seek out bodies of water not near the center of town, so as not to be seen during Tashlich by their non-Jewish neighbors, for fear of a “poisoning the wells” accusation. This was certainly true if actual food was thrown into the water, but even if not, they would be accused of mumbling curses and poisoning the wells by witchcraft.

If the first day of Rosh HaShanah falls on Shabbat , Tashlich is said on Sunday, the second day. If it cannot be recited at all on Rosh Hashanah , due to inclement weather or “whatever,” it can be recited until Hoshana Rabbah.

Tashlich is preferably recited alongside a body of water containing fish, to remind us that just as fish are protected by the water in which they live, we pray to be protected by God. Also, just as fish swim freely and can suddenly be caught in a net, so too we can just as helplessly fall into the net of sin. And even as the eyes of fish are always open, so do we pray that God too will keep vigilant watch over his people.