Tashlich with Teens

Tashlich with Teens

Discussion Ritual Guide BACKGROUND: Tashlich is a High Holiday ritual of throwing into a river breadcrumbs (or an ecologically friendly alternative, such as rice paper), as a symbolic casting out of our misdeeds from the past year.

The ritual takes its name from Micah 7:19, in which the prophet described God ְ ִ‫ ַ​ַת � ׁ​ְׁשִל‬- tashlich) into the deep as forgiving the people: “You shall throw away (‫יְך‬ sea all of our sins.” This ritual guide, designed for parents and teens, can be used anytime through Sukkot near a body of water.

DISCUSS WITH YOUR FAMILY: to tradition, tashlich ideally takes place by a body of water 1 According where fish are present. One reason for this is that fish always have their eyes open, watching what’s happening around them. How can parents and teens watch out for each other?

from Micah, it is God who is casting our sins into the sea, 2 Innottheus.verse Are there any wrongs from this past year – either in your life or in the world – that you feel need the help of a higher power?

ritual of tashlich is not enough by itself. We must also apologize and 3 The make sure we do not repeat the mistake in the future. Think about one of your wrongdoings from the past year, whether accidental or intentional.

What is one thing you can do to make it right, or to make sure you do something different next time?

REFLECT AND SHARE: Now respond in writing to these prompts. For the first prompt, we recommend using washable markers or dissolvable paper; for the second prompt, we recommend blank cardstock, a small piece of cardboard, or a note in your phone.

On paper: What do you want to cast off from the past year? A mistake you 1 made accidentally that nevertheless caused harm, or a wrongdoing you did on purpose?

cardstock: What do you want to take with you into the coming year?

2 On Something you want to watch out for, or continue doing, or a way that you want to be a better person?

This writing is private and does not need to be shared. We suggest, however, taking turns sharing what support you might need to accomplish what you wrote.

RITUAL

1 Read aloud:

We now prepare to throw away our misdeeds, mistakes, and sins from the past year.

For some of us, saying sorry and forgiving ourselves comes naturally.

For others, perhaps because of our upbringing, our identities, or our experiences, this is very hard. We can recall that the “you” in tashlich (“You will throw away,”) is not actually us, but God. Whether or not you believe in God, it may be helpful to remember that, according to the text, it is a higher power who unburdens you from your regrets.

2 Take the paper and crumple it into a ball. Read aloud: We say together the words of the prophet Micah:

You will throw away into the deep sea all of our sins.

ְ ִ‫ְו ְַַת �ְׁשִׁל‬ ‫יְך ּ �ִּב ְ​ְמֻצֻ ל ֹ​ֹות‬ ּ � ַ‫ָיָם ּ �ׇּכל ַח‬ ָ ‫ֹּט‬ ‫אוָתם‬

V’tashlich bimtzulot yam kol chatotam.

3 Toss the paper into the water. Read aloud:

We also know that casting out sin, no matter how sincere, is not enough.

We must also affirm ourselves as doers of good. For some of us, this may be the harder task: to see the good in us and to believe that we, the flawed humans that we are, are capable of the greatest goodness imaginable.

We say together the words of the prophet Micah:

What does God want from you?

Only do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

ָ ‫ָ​ָמה־ה׳ ּ​ּד ֹ​ֹו ֵ​ֵרׁשׁ ִמְִּמ‬ ‫�ָּך‬ ׂ ֲ‫ּ �ִּכי ִאִ ם־ֲע‬ ‫ׂש ֹ​ֹות‬ ‫ִמִ � ׁ​ְׁשָּפ�ּט ְוְַאַ ֲהֲ ַבַ ת‬ ‫ֶחֶ ֶסֶ ד ְוְַהַ ְצְ ֵנֵַעַ ֶלֶ​ֶכֶ ת‬ ָ ‫ִעִ ם־ֱאֱֹל ֹ ֶ​ֶק‬ ‫יָך‬

Mah Adonai doresh mimkha? Ki im asot mishpat, ahavat hesed, v’hatzneah lechet im Elohecha.

up the cardstock and place it in your pocket (or sock or purse 4 Fold if you don’t have a pocket). Keep it someplace you can refer it as a reminder throughout the year.

Happy New Year !

Shanah Tovah • ‫שנה טובה‬