Shabbat Greeting September 11-12 | Elul 29 – Tishrei 1

This week’s Shabbat Message:

As we approach Shabbat, Rabbi Erica shares thoughts on Tashlich:

Tashlich is a Jewish custom where people go to a natural body of water during Rosh Hashanah to symbolically cast away their sins. Tashlich comes from Hebrew and means “to cast.” We read specific traditional prayers and verses, most notably from the biblical prophet Micah. Many people toss small pieces of bread crumbs, pebbles, or leaves into the water to represent letting go of the past years mistakes.

Consider doing this on your own!

by Rabbi Erica

Sing an opening song: Hinei Matov or any song about renewal, community, or change.

Read together: Micah 7:19: “God will take us back in love; God will cover up our iniquities. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea,”

Read together (And after each line cast a piece of bread or pebble into a body of water, such as a lake or canal): 

As we stand by this water, we look back at the past year. We look at the choices we made at home, at school, online, and with our friends. Together, we cast away these mistakes and prepare for a fresh start:

• For the times we chose to look at a screen instead of looking at the people we love—We are ready to change.
• For the times we typed or texted mean words that we would never say out loud—We are ready to change.
• For the times we felt jealous of what other people had instead of being grateful for our own blessings—We are ready to change.
• For the times we didn’t really listen and just wanted to win an argument—We are ready to change.
• For the times we gossiped or talked behind someone’s back instead of being a true friend— We are ready to change.
• For the times we said we were “too busy” to help a family member or check on a lonely friend—We are ready to change.
• For the times we threw away trash carelessly or forgot to take care of God’s earth—We are ready to change.
• For the times we stayed silent when we saw someone being treated unfairly or left out—We are ready to change.
• For the times we were too hard on ourselves and forgot to forgive our own mistakes—We are ready to change.
• For the times we rushed through our day so fast that we forgot to say “thank you” for the good things—We are ready to change.
• For the times we let our anger or frustration make us yell at the people around us—We are ready to change.
• For the times we took the easy way out instead of doing what we knew was right—We are ready to change.

Read together: Our hands are now empty; our pockets are cleared. The water carries away our missteps, but it leaves behind our capacity to grow. We cannot change the past year, but we have absolute ownership over the year ahead.

Let us seal this service with the hope of transformation, remembering that return is always possible.

Read together: יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי

Yih’yu l’ratzon imrei fi v’hegyon libi l’fanecha, Adonai tzuri v’go-ali.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You, Adonai, our Rock and our Redeemer.

May we be sealed in the Book of Life for a year of health, growth, mindfulness, and peace.

Shanah Tovah U’metukah!