Tashlich - Have you wondered what all those people were doing at the beach throwing bread into the water? The afternoon service on Rosh Hashanah, called “Tashlich” is a symbolic way of throwing our sins away. The image of being “washed clean” is an ancient metaphor, and a live body of water is a tangible way of watching our mistakes disappear. The Hebrew word literally means to “send away”. We welcome you on the beach as we state what “sin” we are letting go of, and support one another in the desire to change behaviors that don’t serve us or the people we love.
"You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." - Micah 7: 19
Rosh Hashanah
Hebrew name means: Head of the year—idiomatically, New Year.
What's It About? A solemn holiday beginning the calendar year with repentance from sin and the hope of renewal.
Pronounce it: Some say rashashanuh (like it's one word) and some rohsh ha-shah-nah.
When is it: Starts the evening of September 20, 2017, September 9, 2018, September 29, 2019, September 18, 2020
Foods: Apples and honey, round hallah with raisins, honey cake, pomegranates, pumpkins and other round foods, sweet foods and foods that are gold-colored, like carrots.
Activities: Many Jews who never show up to synagogue the rest of the year go for the marathon of synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. One special activity that they don't want to miss is the sounding of the shofar, or ram's horn. At home, a special activity is eating apples dipped in honey. Many Jews send New Year's cards for this holiday. Probably the most important activity associated with this holiday comes between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: trying to repair relationships and make apologies for bad behavior in the previous year.
Symbols of Holiday: The shofar or ram's horn, apples and honey, pomegranates, the Book of Life.
Greeting? You can say Happy New Year, or try the Hebrew version, Shanah Tovah. If you want to give a more complete version of the greeting, try L'shanah tovah tikatevu, May you be inscribed for a good year (in the book of life). Yiddish-speaking Jews say "Gut yontev."
Read more: Our High Holidays Resource Page includes a Guide to the High Holidays for Interfaith Families, booklets, blessings, articles and more.
What's It About? A solemn holiday beginning the calendar year with repentance from sin and the hope of renewal.
Pronounce it: Some say rashashanuh (like it's one word) and some rohsh ha-shah-nah.
When is it: Starts the evening of September 20, 2017, September 9, 2018, September 29, 2019, September 18, 2020
Foods: Apples and honey, round hallah with raisins, honey cake, pomegranates, pumpkins and other round foods, sweet foods and foods that are gold-colored, like carrots.
Activities: Many Jews who never show up to synagogue the rest of the year go for the marathon of synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. One special activity that they don't want to miss is the sounding of the shofar, or ram's horn. At home, a special activity is eating apples dipped in honey. Many Jews send New Year's cards for this holiday. Probably the most important activity associated with this holiday comes between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: trying to repair relationships and make apologies for bad behavior in the previous year.
Symbols of Holiday: The shofar or ram's horn, apples and honey, pomegranates, the Book of Life.
Greeting? You can say Happy New Year, or try the Hebrew version, Shanah Tovah. If you want to give a more complete version of the greeting, try L'shanah tovah tikatevu, May you be inscribed for a good year (in the book of life). Yiddish-speaking Jews say "Gut yontev."
Read more: Our High Holidays Resource Page includes a Guide to the High Holidays for Interfaith Families, booklets, blessings, articles and more.
May we all shake ourselves from sin and be signed and sealed in the Book of Life for a good and sweet new year!
